Work-Related Pesticide Poisoning Among Farmers in Two Villages of Southern China: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Details

• Personal Author:
  Jing R ; Smith GA ; Stallones L ; Wheeler K ; Xiang H ; Zhang X ; Zhao W
• Description:
  Background: Pesticide poisoning is an important health problem among Chinese farm workers, but there is a paucity of pesticide poisoning data from China. Using the WHO standard case definition of a possible acute pesticide poisoning, we investigated the prevalence and risk factors of acute work-related pesticide poisoning among farmers in Southern China. Methods: A stratified sample of 910 pesticide applicators from two villages in southern China participated in face-to-face interviews. Respondents who self-reported having two or more of a list of sixty-six symptoms within 24 hours after pesticide application were categorized as having suffered acute pesticide poisoning. The association between the composite behavioral risk score and pesticide poisoning were assessed in a multivariate logistic model. Results: A total of 80 (8.8%) pesticide applicators reported an acute work-related pesticide poisoning. The most frequent symptoms among applicators were dermal (11.6%) and nervous system (10.7%) symptoms. Poisoning was more common among women, farmers in poor areas, and applicators without safety training (all p < 0.001). After controlling for gender, age, education, geographic area and the behavioral risk score, farmers without safety training had an adjusted odds ratio of 3.22 (95% CI: 1.86-5.60). The likelihood of acute pesticide poisoning was also significantly associated with number of exposure risk behaviors. A significant "dose-response" relationship between composite behavioral risk scores calculated from 9 pesticides exposure risk behaviors and the log odds of pesticide poisoning prevalence was seen among these Chinese farmers (R2 = 0.9246). Conclusions: This study found that 8.8% of Chinese pesticide applicators suffered acute pesticide poisoning and suggests that pesticide safety training, safe application methods, and precautionary behavioral measures could be effective in reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Hazardous Substances Insecticides Occupational Health Poisoning Safety
• Keywords:
  Acute Toxicity Agricultural Workers Author Keywords: China Cross Sectional Studies Dose Response Exposure Assessment Farm Workers Occupational Poisoning Pesticide Poisoning Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals Poisons Risk Assessment

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• ISSN:
  1471-2458
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052207
• Citation:
  BMC Public Health 2011 Jun; 11:429
• Contact Point Address:
  Xujun Zhang, Southeast University Injury Prevention Research Institute, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
• Email:
  zhangxujun@sina.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  Colorado State University - Ft. Collins
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20030915
• Source Full Name:
  BMC Public Health
• End Date:
  20270914
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e63bf8f51e6e68a8b20ffb4c6cb9def8645b8d7bf56b724f1ac432aef40ff04b44f4ad55c58f92d045e197447871a831b3d4cb7a4a718761176c6658b0f2e28e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211776/cdc_211776_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.53 MB ]