ABSTRACT
Resumen: Una serie de estudios evidencian las consecuencias en la salud de las personas expuestas a plaguicidas, ya sea por la actividad laboral como por vivir o estudiar cerca de predios agrícolas. La exposición ocupacional a una serie de insecticidas, herbicidas y fungicidas está asociada principalmente a cáncer, daño neurocognitivo y motor, polineuropatía periférica, depresión y ansiedad, malformaciones en niños al nacer, dificultades endocrinas y en el sistema reproductivo, daño renal y genotóxicos. A través de una revisión de la literatura, el objetivo del siguiente artículo consistió en dilucidar la situación de exposición a plaguicidas en comunidades escolares rurales y aplicar elementos de la bioética y justicia ambiental para proponer un cambio y acciones que permitan mejorar su calidad de vida y salud, por el derecho a vivir libres de contaminación ambiental. La justicia ambiental busca mucho más que la equidad y el tratamiento justo y de calidad similar al de otras comunidades no vulnerables, apunta a hacer que las mismas comunidades exijan la necesidad de una sociedad más igualitaria que vele por el derecho a vivir en un medio ambiente limpio.
Resumo: Uma série de estudos evidenciam as conseqüências na saúde das pessoas expostas a pesticidas, seja por atividade de trabalho como por viver ou estudar perdo de prédiso agrícolas. A exposição ocupacional a uma série de inseticidas, herbicidas e fungicidas está associada principalmente a câncer, dano neurocognitivo e motor, polineuropatia periférica, depressão e ansiedade, mal formações em crianças ao nascer, dificuldade endócrinas e no sistema reprodutivo, dano renal e genotóxicos. Através de uma revisão da literatura, o objetivo do artigo seguinte consistiu em elucidar a situação de exposição a pesticidas em comunidades escolares rurais e aplicar elementos de bioética e justiça ambiental para propor uma mudança e ações que permitam melhorar sua qualidade de vida e saúde, pelo direito a viver livre de contaminação ambiental. A justiça ambiental busca muito mais que a equidade e o tratamento justo e de qualidade similar ao de outras comunidades não vulneráveis, tenta fazer que as mesmas comunidades exijam a necessidade de uma sociedade mais igualitária que vele pelo direito a viver em um meio ambiente limpo.
Abstract: A series of studies show the health consequences of people exposed to pesticides either because of their work activity or because they live or study near agricultural land. Occupational exposure to a series of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides is mainly associated with cancer, neurocognitive and motor damage, peripheral polyneuropathy, depression and anxiety, malformations in children at birth, endocrine and reproductive system difficulties, kidney damage and genotoxic effects. Through a review of the literature, the objective of the following article was to elucidate the situation of exposure to pesticides in rural school communities, unveil the bioethical dilemmas in which they are located and the need to apply elements of environmental justice to generate a change and actions to improve their quality of life and health, for the right to live free of environmental pollution. Environmental justice seeks much more than equity and fair treatment and quality similar to that of other non-vulnerable communities, aims to make the same communities demand the need for a more egalitarian society that ensures the right to live in an environment cleansed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Rural Population , Students , Bioethics , Social Justice , EnvironmentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that acute poisoning from exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides in agricultural workers causes adverse health effects. However, neuropsychological and cognitive effects of chronic occupational exposure to OP pesticides remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: To identify, evaluate, and systematize existing evidence regarding chronic exposure to OP pesticides and neuropsychological effects in farmworkers. METHODS: Using the PubMed search engine, a systematic review process was implemented and replicated according to the PRISMA statement. Eligibility criteria included workers over 18 years of age exposed to OP pesticides as well as assessment of neuropsychological and cognitive functioning. Search terms were in English and Spanish languages and included organophosphate and workers. RESULTS: Of the search results, 33 of 1,256 articles meet eligibility criteria. Twenty-four studies found an association between chronic occupational exposure to OP pesticides and low neuropsychological performance in workers. We classified nine of the studies to have study design limitations. Studies indicated occupational exposure to OP pesticides is linked to difficulties in executive functions, psychomotor speed, verbal, memory, attention, processing speed, visual-spatial functioning, and coordination. Nine studies find no relationship between OP pesticides exposure and neuropsychological performance. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, evidence suggests an association between chronic occupational exposure to OP pesticides and neuropsychological effects. However, there is no consensus about the specific cognitive skills affected.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/chemically induced , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/etiology , Organophosphates/adverse effects , Pesticides/adverse effects , Agricultural Workers' Diseases/psychology , Cognition/drug effects , Farmers/psychology , Humans , Memory/drug effects , Motor Skills/drug effects , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/psychology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Los trabajadores de la salud están expuestos a accidentes laborales principalmente provocados por material corto-punzante contaminado y superficie del trabajo. El objetivo del estudio consistió en evaluar la presencia de accidentes laborales de trabajadores de un hospital de alta complejidad de la zona centro-sur de Chile e identificar las variables asociadas a incapacidad laboral temporal. Se analizaron 262 registros de las declaraciones individuales de accidentes del trabajo del hospital entre los años 2007-2009. La prevalencia de accidentes es levemente superior a la tasa de accidentabilidad del sector de servicios del país y similar a otros estudios internacionales. Los trabajadores con edad menor a 40 años, mujeres y técnicos o auxiliares de enfermería presentan mayor prevalencia de accidentes. Los accidentes son más frecuentes en la primera mitad del año, los primeros cuatro días de la semana y en la jornada de la mañana. Los golpes en el cuerpo son los accidentes más comunes, seguidos de los corto-punzantes. Los servicios de medicina, pabellones de operaciones, el trayecto hogar-hospital-hogar y las zonas de tránsito del hospital presentaron mayor accidentabilidad. Los accidentes con incapacidad laboral temporal se asociaron con golpes en la cabeza o cuerpo, unidad de medicina, el trayecto hogar-hospital-hogar y zonas de tránsito del recinto. En conclusión, aunque los accidentes disminuyen en el tiempo, tienden a ocurrir en los mismos lugares, afectan a mujeres, no profesionales y están asociados a medidas de seguridad. Este estudio aporta resultados para generar propuestas de intervención que disminuyan los accidentes laborales en hospitales.
Healthcare workers are exposed to injuries caused by contaminated sharps and work surfaces. The objective of this study was to describe occupational injuries among workers at a tertiary level hospital in south-central Chile, and to identify the variables associated with temporary sickness absence. We reviewed 262 injury reports filed at this hospital between the years 2007 and 2009. The prevalence of occupational injuries was slightly higher than that of the countrys service sector and similar to other international studies. Workers under age 40, females, and technicians or nursing assistants had higher injury rates. Injuries occurred more frequently during the first half of the year, the first four days of the week and during the morning shift. Blows to the body were the most common, followed by percutaneous injuries. General medical wards, operating rooms, and en route between home and hospital, as well as transfer areas inside the hospital, were the most common areas involved. The most common scenarios leading to temporary sickness absence were blows to the head or body, and those occurring in general medical wards, en route between home and hospital, and transfer areas inside the hospital. In summary, athough injuries decreased over time, they tended to occur in the same places, and are more common among women, technicians and are associated with safety measures. This study provides results to generate proposals for interventions to decrease occupational injuries in hospitals.
