Occupational Health Risk Assessment on Pesticides Exposure Among Horticulture Farmers in the Upper Northeast Thailand

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to investigate the health risk assessment on pesticides exposure among farmers in the upper northeast Thailand by application of occupational health risk assessment matrix of 3 models. A total of 383 farmers participated and was collected data by the structural interviewed questionnaire. The results showed that most farmers were female (55.09%), average age was 54 years old, and self-plantation (85.90%). Farmers employed pesticide injections (31.07%), used mostly organophosphate group (17.75%). Most common negative behaviors were the use of insecticides and eating/drinking in the work area. The top three types of self-protection equipment (PPE) were long-sleeved shirts and trousers, rubber gloves and boots. Farmers had symptoms related to pesticide toxicity at mild symptoms as dizziness, headache and itchy eyes. Moderate symptoms in cluded watery eye, runny nose and itchy eyes. The severe symptoms were rapid heartbeat, heart disease and nosebleed. From health risk assessment 3 matrix models of exposure to pesticide, risk levels from field entry exposure pesticide, risk levels from prevention behavior model and risk levels from theuse of pesticides and self-protection with PPE showed that farmers had accept able risk. Therefore, these three-health risk matrixes can be selected for monitoring and health surveillance program of appropriate farmers’ characteristics and different risk level of pesticides exposure.