Health Risk Assessment of Pesticide Exposure among Vegetable Farmers in Khilek Subdistrict, Muaeng District, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed  to assess health risks among farmers who used pesticides on their vegetable farms in Khilek Subdistrict, Muaeng District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. A total of 120 participants were recruited using the simple random sampling method. The risk assessment questionnaire developed by the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases was used as the method of data collection and health risk assessment. Descriptive statistics including the prevalence, percentage, median, and interquartile range were calculated. The results showed that the farmers were exposed to low levels of pesticides (81.67%). When the farmers used pesticides, there was a minimal likelihood of exposure (92.50%). However, this study found that the farmers sprayed pesticides (37.50%) and herbicides (23.33%) on their produce. The types of pesticides used were abamectin, paraquat, and carbofuran (50.83%, 35.00%, and 15.83%, repectively). While working,
they faced a risk of exposure to pesticides (40.83%). Therefore, to reduce health risks among the farmers, the concerned agencies should provide a proper training on safe usage of pesticides for them, launch a campaign to reduce pesticide use, or promote the use of biopesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides.