Pesticide Impact on Onion Growing Farmers Health in Buengbon Sub-district, Yangchumnoy District, Sisaket Province

Abstract

This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine current situation, knowledge, practices and
health impacts of pesticide use on onion growing farmers in Buengbon Sub-district, Yangchumnoy District,
Sisaket Province. The 205 sampling farmers were investigated using structured questionnaire and choline
esterase enzyme test kit. The study conducted during the year 2009 harvesting season, December 2008 and
March 2009. Most of studied farmers (57.56 %) were 41-60 year-old and 64.9 % of them graduated at primary
school.
The results showed all of the farmers growing onion and later, 80.5% and 42.9 % of them grew chili
and garlic, respectively. Most farmers (21.95%) gained income for per seasonal cultivation 40,000-50,000
Baht. The information about pesticide use, 69.3% of farmers got from the agricultural retail shop. The average
expenditures for pesticide and labor spraying cost were 1,000 and 400 Baht/Rai, respectively. There were 65.9
% of the farmers occasionally used neem tree extracted liquid and effective microorganisms. Most have known
about good practices on pesticide use, except recognition of color of the toxic sign on pesticide bottle, only
36.1% of them had that correct understanding. The main personal protective equipments used during their
spraying were head clothing, instead of hat, mask and shirt. During the year 2008 and 2009 harvesting
seasons, there were 31.2% and 22% of studied farmers had symptoms related to pesticide poisoning;
including urticaria, nausea, dizziness, eye-irritation, blurred vision, chest pain and tachycardia. The results of
serum chorine esterase enzyme test showed 24.4% of farmers were normal, 37.1% were at safe level, 27.3%
were at risky level and 11.2% were at unsafe level.