Pesticides use and health impacts on farmers in Thailand, Vietnam, and Lao PDR: Protocol for a survey of knowledge, behaviours and blood acetyl cholinesterase concentrations

Abstract

Pesticides use in Southeast Asia has increased steadily, driven by the growth of large-scale commercial farming, as well as a desire to maximise food production in rural subsistence economies. Given that use of chemical pesticides, such as organophosphates and carbamates, has known potential health impacts, there are concerns about the safety of agricultural workers, and a need for a better evidence base to underpin regulation and worker education. This study, undertaken in 9 districts in Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, will interview agricultural workers to investigate how they use pesticides, their knowledge of risks and self-protective practices, and their self-reported illness symptoms. In each district researchers will recruit and interview 120 participants engaged in vegetable farming, who have recently used pesticides, making a total of 1080 subjects divided equally between the three study countries. Workers’ degree of pesticides exposure will be determined from acetyl cholinesterase concentrations in capillary blood samples collected using field test kits, and these data will be analysed together with the interview findings. Country findings will be compared and contrasted, and general patterns noted. Knowledge gained about risky behaviours, self-protective practices and degree of association with serious pesticides exposure will assist policy makers and inform health improvement programmes.

Multipurpose applications of bamboo as an activated carbon: An overview

“…Chemical pesticides are widely employed in agriculture to ensure a decent crop (Aktar et al, 2009;Hughes et al, 2021). Chemical pesticides in the environment, on the other hand, have become a social issue as these toxins have been found in a variety of water, river, and soil sources in recent years.…”

Food Systems Profile - The Lao People's Democratic Republic

“…Some of the impacts of the overuse and misuse of agrochemicals, hormones, and antibiotics are water and soil contamination, an increase in cases of farmer poisoning, and food and drinking water contamination leading to a risk of serious illnesses, such as cancer (Shattuck, 2021;Hughes et al, 2021) commercial agriculture took off (Shattuck, 2021).…”

Risk Analysis of Community Water Quality in Alahan Panjang Agricultural Area, Solok Regency, West Sumatera, Indonesia

“…By nature, pesticides are potentially toxic to other organisms including humans, and their use must be safe and disposed of properly. Pesticide comes from the Latin pestis and caedo which can be freely translated into poison to control intruder bodies (2)(3).…”

“…Alahan Panjang is one of four villages located in the valley sub-district of Gumanti in Solok Regency, which has an area of 88.76 km 2 . The major occupations of the residents are farmers and farm laborers where well water is used as a source of clean water.…”