Subjective Symptoms of Male Workers Linked to Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Coffee Plantations in the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic.

Acute and sub-acute effects of pesticide use in coffee farmers have rarely been investigated. In the present field study, self-reported health symptoms from 38 male pesticide users were compared to those of 33 organic farmers. Results of cytological findings have been reported in an accompanying paper in this issue. The present second part of the study comprises a questionnaire based survey for various, potentially pesticide related symptoms among the coffee farmers. Symptom rates were generally higher in exposed workers, reaching significance in nine out of 19 assessed symptoms. Significantly increased symptom frequencies were related to neurotoxicity, parasympathic effects and acetylcholine esterase inhibition, with the highest differences found for excessive salivation, dizziness and stomach ache. We revealed a lack of precautionary measures in the majority of farmers. Better education, regulations, and safety equipment are urgently needed.

[Study on botanical pesticides and its application in production of traditional Chinese medicine].

The issues including excessive pesticide residues and heavy metal contamination have become the bottle-neck in the development of Chinese herbal medicines. Compared with traditional chemical pesticides, biological pesticides, especially botanical pesticides, are more safe and environment-friendly, which were beneficial to the quality improvement Chinese medicinal materials. Though there exists a weak basic research and it is hard for promotion and regulation, the policy of good and the desire for botanical pesticides will accelerate its development, and replace traditional chemical pesticides gradually. This paper reviews the current situation of botanical pesticides, and gives some pertinence suggestions according to the existing problems and challenges. Research on botanical pesticides will become the key point to solve the problem of excessive pesticides residues and heavy metal contamination, and promote the healthy development of Chinese materia medica.

Determination of multi-class pesticide residue in dietary supplements from grape seed extracts by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A new method was developed and validated for the determination of multi-class pesticide residues in nutraceutical products obtained from grape seed extracts. The extraction procedure was based on QuEChERS methodology using ethyl acetate as solvent and a dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) clean-up stage with C18 was included to minimise matrix effects. Pesticides determination was achieved using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS); total running time was 11 min. Pesticides were quantified using matrix-matched calibration. The developed method was validated in terms of matrix effect, linearity, selectivity, limits of detection and quantification, trueness, repeatability and inter-day precision at three concentration levels (10, 50, 100 µg kg(-1)). Suitable recovery values were obtained for 76% of analysed pesticides at the lowest concentration (10 µg kg(-1)). For most of the compounds, relative standard deviation values were lower than 20% and 25% for intra- and inter-day precision, respectively. Finally, 106 pesticides were determined, and the method was applied to seven dietary supplements from grape seed extract, obtaining various positive results for piperonyl butoxide, cyromazine and diniconazole at concentrations ranging from 2.0 to 13.4 µg kg(-1).

Rhinitis associated with pesticide use among private pesticide applicators in the agricultural health study.

Farmers commonly experience rhinitis but the risk factors are not well characterized. The aim of this study was to analyze cross-sectional data on rhinitis in the past year and pesticide use from 21,958 Iowa and North Carolina farmers in the Agricultural Health Study, enrolled 1993-1997, to evaluate pesticide predictors of rhinitis. Polytomous and logistic regression models were used to assess association between pesticide use and rhinitis while controlling for demographics and farm-related exposures. Sixty-seven percent of farmers reported current rhinitis and 39% reported 3 or more rhinitis episodes. The herbicides glyphosate [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.05-1.13] and petroleum oil (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.05-1.19) were associated with current rhinitis and increased rhinitis episodes. Of the insecticides, four organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, and malathion), carbaryl, and use of permethrin on animals were predictors of current rhinitis. Diazinon was significant in the overall polytomous model and was associated with an elevated OR of 13+ rhinitis episodes (13+ episodes OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.09-1.38). The fungicide captan was also a significant predictor of rhinitis. Use of petroleum oil, use of malathion, use of permethrin, and use of the herbicide metolachlor were significant in exposure-response polytomous models. Specific pesticides may contribute to rhinitis in farmers; agricultural activities did not explain these findings.

Avaliação e reflexos da comercialização e utilização de agrotóxicos na região do submédio do Vale do São Francisco / Evaluation and reflexes on the commercialization and use of agrotoxics in the Sao Francisco Valley region

A utilização de agrotóxicos em alta quantidade e variedade contribui para a ocorrência de danos à saúde humana e ambiental. A região submédia do Vale do São Francisco é uma das principais áreas de exploração da hortifruticultura irrigada do Brasil, possuindo mais da metade de sua população economicamente ativa empregada na agricultura. Como em lugares irrigados há um aumento na quantidade de agrotóxicos empregados na plantação, a utilização sem adequado controle oferece real situação de contaminação ambiental e de exposição humana a essas substâncias. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar e classificar os principais agrotóxicos comercializados nas cidades de Petrolina (PE) e Juazeiro (BA). Foram levantados 108 agrotóxicos, classificados em 71 grupos ativos e 44 grupos químicos. Evidencia-se na região o despreparo dos vendedores na indicação dos produtos e a falta de fiscalização na sua comercialização. Dentre os agrotóxicos, 56por cento são da classe inseticida, 44por cento são classificados como muito perigosos para o ambiente e 18por cento como extremamente tóxicos para a população. Esta situação exige maior fiscalização na utilização desses insumos químicos, para proteção da população local e do meio ambiente, além de reflexões para a organização de serviços locais integrados de saúde do trabalhador para a vigilância e assistência sanitária.

The use of agrotoxics in high quantities and varieties, contributes to the occurrence of damage to human and environmental health. The São Francisco Valley region is one of the main areas for the utilization of irrigated hortifloriculture in Brazil. More than half of its population economically active is employed in agriculture. Due to the increase in the quantity of agrotoxics used for planting in irrigated locations, the utilization without proper control represents a real situation for environmental contamination and human exposure to these substances. The purpose of this study is to identify and classify the main agrotoxics commercialized in the cities of Petrolina, PE and Juazeiro, BA. 108 agrotoxics were found, classified in 71 active groups and 44 chemical groups. In this region, the sales agents’ lack of preparation, in regards to the products, and the lack of regulation in their commercialization are evident. Within the group of agrotoxics, 56% are classified as pesticides, 44% are classified as extremely dangerous to the environment, and 18% as extremely dangerous to the population. This situation demands for greater regulation in the utilization of these chemical products for the protection of the local population and the environment, as well as for reflections in the organization of local worker integrated health services for sanitary surveillance and assistance.

Manual de diagnóstico y tratamiento de intoxicaciones agudas causadas por plaguicidas

Presenta los aspectos generales de los plaguicidas, la clasificación, tipo de organofosforados y carbamatos, asi como sus propiedades físico-quimicas de los organofosforados; toxicocinetica y toxicodinamica de los plaguicidas organofosforados y carbamatos; vias de absorción proceso de biotransformación y de eliminación; mecanismo de acción sobre el organismo; diagnostico de la intoxicación aguda; historia clínica; pruebas de laboratorio; tratamiento; tratamiento médico