The Situation, Effects, and Methods of Self-Protection from the Use of Pesticides in Thailand
Keywords:
Pesticide, Agricultural worker, Health impact, Environmental impact, Health preventionAbstract
In Thailand, there has been a continuing increase in importing pesticides used in agriculture. Unsafe
use of pesticides is potentially hazardous to agricultural workers which ranges from acute and chronic health
conditions. Pesticides can contaminate crops and agricultural products, thereby affecting consumer health
and leaving residues in the environment. Additionally, pesticides can have negative effects on the life cycle
of plants and animals and can accumulate in food chains. To efficiently prevent adverse effects from pesticide
use, supply chain management (from upstream to downstream) should be implemented. The government
should forbid and ban toxic pesticides, improve law enforcement, and implement environmental management
measures to reduce contamination. Also, surveillance of pesticide-related illness, and health screening should
be implemented promptly. Thus, the situation of pesticide use, adverse effects, and health prevention should
be acknowledged in order to define efficient measures. Information on pesticide health and safety (before,
during, and after use) should be promoted among agricultural workers. In particular, pesticide safety should
be addressed in national action plans, and intersectional collaboration should be applied to integrate pesticide
management and control the adverse effects of pesticide use sustainably among Thai agricultural workers.
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