Pesticide use in Thailand: Current situation, health risks, and gaps in research and policy

Laohaudomchok, Wisanti; Nankongnab, Noppanun; Siriruttanapruk, Somkiat; Klaimala, Pakasinee; Lianchamroon, Witoon; Ousap, Prokchol; Jatiket, Marut; Kajitvichyanukul, Puangrat; Kitana, Noppadon; Siriwong, Wattasit; Hemachudhah, Thiravat; Satayavivad, Jutamaad; Robson, Mark G.; Jaacks, Lindsay M.; Barr, Dana Boyd; Kongtip, Pornpimol; Woskie, Susan

doi:10.1080/10807039.2020.1808777

Cited by 62 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…For example, Laohaudomchok et al examined health risks associated with pesticide use in Thailand and Kongtip et al investigated the occupational health of informal workers in Thailand. The findings of these studies are consistent with the 2017 Occupational and Environmental Disease Situation Report, which found that Nan Province had the second highest heat-related disease rate in northern Thailand (0.21 per 100,000 population) [13][14][15]. Therefore, female farmers should receive early renal screening.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Working Conditions and Urinalysis Dipstick Testing among Female Rice Farmers: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Arphorn

Manothum

Santiwung³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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This cross-sectional study aimed to assess working conditions and renal function among female rice farmers in Nan Province, Thailand. Purposive random sampling was used to select participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected from 65 female rice farmers using in-depth interviews. A walk-through survey was performed to examine hazards in the rice farm and a dipstick test was used for urinalysis. The results demonstrated that all rice farming stages contained risks from physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards and that no measures had been implemented to protect participants’ health from these risks. The screening test results showed low urinary pH (5–6) in 54 women (83.0%), but high urinary specific gravity (1.030) in 25 women (38.5%). Participants’ urine contained leukocytes in 15 women (23.1%), protein in 14 women (21.5%) and blood in 13 women (20%). This study results suggest that farming activities affect female rice farmers’ health and safety. Urinalysis dipstick tests, which can be administered at the local public health promoting hospital, should be used to assess the occupational health status. The results will be useful for health surveillance and follow-up of the participants. These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in a larger study including non-farmers.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Working Conditions and Urinalysis Dipstick Testing among Female Rice Farmers: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Arphorn

Manothum

Santiwung³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Thailand's government has made efforts to enhance crop yields in recent decades (1). As a result, the importing of pesticides has steadily increased year on year to facilitate control of pests, including insects, weeds, and fungi (2,3). The most commonly imported insecticide classes were organophosphates (OP) such as chlorpyrifos (1,723.02 tons) and pirimiphos-methyl (750.46 tons), followed by pyrethroids (PY) such as cypermethrin (675.52 tons) (1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in Knowledge, Awareness, Practice, and Health Symptoms in Farmers Who Applied Organophosphates and Pyrethroids on Farms

Thammachai

Sapbamrer

Rohitrattana

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aimed to examine farmers' knowledge, awareness, practices regarding pesticide use, and prevalence of health symptoms related to pesticides exposure among farmers who applied organophosphates (OP) and pyrethroids (PY).MethodsData regarding demographic variables and health symptoms pertinent to pesticide use was collected from 67 farmers who applied OP and 50 farmers who applied PY using interviews from January to March 2021.ResultsThe farmers who applied OP had lower knowledge, awareness, and prevention practices regarding pesticide use than those who applied PY. After adjustment of covariate variables, the farmers who applied OP had a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory conditions (OR = 8.29 for chest pain, OR = 6.98 for chest tightness, OR = 27.54 for dry throat, and OR = 5.91 for cough), neurological symptoms (OR = 10.62 for fatigue and OR = 6.76 for paresthesia), and neurobehavioral symptoms (OR = 13.84 for poor concentration, OR = 3.75 for short term memory, and OR = 8.99 for insomnia) related to pesticide exposure than those who applied PY.ConclusionOur findings suggest that OP had a more adverse effect on human health than PY, resulting in a higher prevalence of pesticide-related symptoms. The outcomes of this study have the benefit of providing vital information for all stakeholders with regard to the implementation of safe practices in the utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) and pesticide use in a health intervention and health promotion program.

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“…Agricultural workers with occupational exposure to pesticides, on average, have greater exposure than the general population [ 5 ]. The agricultural sector comprises approximately 30% of the total workforce in Thailand, and an estimated 70% of the Thai population lives in rural areas [ 6 , 7 ]. Because of their widespread use in Thailand, exposure to pesticides is common [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The agricultural sector comprises approximately 30% of the total workforce in Thailand, and an estimated 70% of the Thai population lives in rural areas [ 6 , 7 ]. Because of their widespread use in Thailand, exposure to pesticides is common [ 7 , 8 ]. The most abundantly used pesticides in Thailand include insecticides, such as pyrethroids and organophosphates (OPs) [ 8 , 9 ], despite their known acute human neurotoxic effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Prenatal Pesticide Exposure and Neurodevelopmental Deficits in Northern Thailand: Protocol for a Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study

Baumert¹,

Fiedler²,

Prapamontol³

et al. 2022

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Prenatal exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Gaps exist in the current literature about the timing and magnitude of exposures that result in these adverse outcomes. Objective The Study of Asian Women and their Offspring’s Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE) cohort was established to investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to pesticides on early indicators of cognitive and motor skills, inhibitory control, emotion regulation, and memory that have been found to be important in the development of subsequent neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental diseases. The overarching goal is to find earlier predictors of potential adverse neurologic outcomes in order to enable earlier interventions that could result in better outcome prognoses. Methods Recruitment of this prospective, longitudinal birth cohort began in July 2017 and was completed in June 2019 in Chom Thong and Fang, 2 farming districts in Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand. Follow-up of the study participants is ongoing. During pregnancy, 7 questionnaires were administered. Time-resolved biospecimen samples were collected monthly (for urine) and during each trimester (for blood) during antenatal care visits. Medical records were abstracted. Infants were administered the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) test at 1 month of age. A total of 322 mother-child pairs completed the NNNS test. All children will be followed until 3 years of age and undergo a series of neurodevelopmental tests. We will complete several additional exposure related analyses. Results A total of 1298 women were screened, and of those, 394 (30.35%) women were enrolled. The mean gestational age at enrollment was 9.9 weeks (SD 2.6). Differences in literacy were observed between Chom Thong and Fang participants. In Fang, about 54 of 105 (51.4%) participants reported being able to read in Thai compared to about 206 of 217 (94.9%) participants in Chom Thong. The percentages were comparable for reporting to be able to write in Thai. Conclusions This longitudinal birth cohort study will inform risk assessment standards for pregnant women in Thailand and other countries. Building awareness of how insecticide exposure during specific windows of pregnancy affects the neurodevelopmental trajectories of children in developing countries is a specific need recognized by the World Health Organization. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/31696

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Pesticide use in Thailand: Current situation, health risks, and gaps in research and policy

Cited by 62 publications

References 34 publications

Working Conditions and Urinalysis Dipstick Testing among Female Rice Farmers: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Working Conditions and Urinalysis Dipstick Testing among Female Rice Farmers: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Differences in Knowledge, Awareness, Practice, and Health Symptoms in Farmers Who Applied Organophosphates and Pyrethroids on Farms

Investigation of Prenatal Pesticide Exposure and Neurodevelopmental Deficits in Northern Thailand: Protocol for a Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study

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