[Evaluation of the impact of exposure to pesticides on the health of the rural population: Vale do Taquari, State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)]. / Avaliação do impacto da exposição a agrotóxicos sobre a saúde de população rural: Vale do Taquari (RS, Brasil).

The scope of this cross-sectional study was to assess a possible link between contact with pesticides and the prevalence of chronic disease in the rural population in the south of Brazil. Three municipalities were randomly chosen. The sample selected was recruited over three months (2005) and was composed of 298 subjects of both sexes, between 18 and 65 years of age, who frequented public or private pharmacies for the purchase of medication. Data obtained by means of structured interviews revealed that 68.4% of those interviewed worked in rural activities, and 74.8% of these were members of families working in agriculture with contact with pesticides. The average age was 51+16.5 years of age for the interviewees with contact with pesticides and 50+17.9 years for those without contact. The sample was composed of 36.2% of men, and 57.7% of the individuals had more than four years of education. Direct or indirect contact with pesticides was associated with the report of several diseases, with neurological and oral diseases being the most prevalent. There was a link with painful conditions and individuals with contact with pesticides reported twice as many diseases. The data corroborate the literature and draw attention to the need for promoting measures to protect the health of the rural population.

Avaliação do impacto da exposição a agrotóxicos sobre a saúde de população rural: Vale do Taquari (RS, Brasil) / Evaluation of the impact of exposure to pesticides on the health of the rural population: Vale do Taquari, State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

Este estudo transversal teve o objetivo de avaliar possível associação entre contato com agrotóxicos e prevalência de doenças crônicas em população rural do Sul do Brasil. Três municípios foram aleatoriamente escolhidos. A amostra selecionada por conveniência foi recrutada durante três meses (2005) e se compôs de 298 sujeitos de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 18 e 65 anos e que procuravam farmácia pública ou privada para a compra de medicamentos. Os dados obtidos, mediante entrevistas estruturadas, demonstraram que 68,4 por cento dos entrevistados exerciam atividade rural, dos quais 74,8 por cento eram membros de famílias de agricultores e tinham contato com agrotóxicos. A média de idade foi 51±16,5 anos para os entrevistados com contato com agrotóxicos e 50±17,9 anos para os sem contato. A amostra foi constituída de 36,2 por cento por homens e 57,7 por cento dos indivíduos que apresentavam mais de quatro anos de estudo. O contato direto ou indireto com agrotóxicos associou-se ao relato de várias doenças, sendo as neurológicas e as orais as mais prevalentes. Houve associação com relato de condições dolorosas, de modo que indivíduos com contato com agrotóxicos apresentaram em torno de duas vezes mais chances de as referirem. Os dados corroboram os da literatura e indicam a necessidade de promoção de medidas de proteção e prevenção da saúde da população rural.

The scope of this cross-sectional study was to assess a possible link between contact with pesticides and the prevalence of chronic disease in the rural population in the south of Brazil. Three municipalities were randomly chosen. The sample selected was recruited over three months (2005) and was composed of 298 subjects of both sexes, between 18 and 65 years of age, who frequented public or private pharmacies for the purchase of medication. Data obtained by means of structured interviews revealed that 68.4 percent of those interviewed worked in rural activities, and 74.8 percent of these were members of families working in agriculture with contact with pesticides. The average age was 51+16.5 years of age for the interviewees with contact with pesticides and 50+17.9 years for those without contact. The sample was composed of 36.2 percent of men, and 57.7 percent of the individuals had more than four years of education. Direct or indirect contact with pesticides was associated with the report of several diseases, with neurological and oral diseases being the most prevalent. There was a link with painful conditions and individuals with contact with pesticides reported twice as many diseases. The data corroborate the literature and draw attention to the need for promoting measures to protect the health of the rural population.