Exploring the adverse effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on wildland firefighters' pulmonary function and DNA damage.

Chiang Mai encounters severe pollution during the wildfire season. Wildland firefighters encounter various hazards while engaged in fire suppression operations, which encompass significant exposure to elevated concentrations of air pollutants resulting from combustion, especially particulate matter. The adverse effects of wildfire smoke on respiratory health are a significant concern. The objective of this study was to examine the potential adverse effects of PM2.5 exposure on the respiratory function and DNA damage of wildland firefighters. This prospective cohort study conducted in Chiang Mai from January to May 2022 planned to evaluate the health status of wildland firefighters during the pre-peak, peak, and post-peak ambient air pollution seasons. The measurement of PM2.5 was done at every forest fire station, as well as utilizing data from the Pollution Control Department. Participants received general health examinations, spirometry evaluations, and blood tests for DNA damage analysis. Pair t-tests and multiple regression models were used to examine the connection between pulmonary function parameters (FVC, FEV1) and PM2.5 concentration, with a significance level of P < 0.05. Thirty-three peak-season and twenty-one post-peak-season participants were enrolled. Four pre-peak-season wildland firefighters had FVC and FEV1 declines of > 15%. Multiple regression analysis showed a negative association between PM2.5 exposure and FVC% predicted (- 2.81%, 95% CI - 5.27 to - 0.34%, P = 0.027) and a marginally significant negative correlation with FVC (- 114.38 ml, 95% CI - 230.36 to 1.59 ml, P = 0.053). The remaining pulmonary measures showed a statistically insignificant decline. There were no significant changes in DNA damage detected. Wildland firefighters suffered a significant decline in pulmonary function associated with PM2.5 exposure. Spirometry is crucial for monitoring and promptly identifying respiratory issues that occur during wildfire seasons. Further research is recommended to explore DNA damage alterations and their potential association with PM2.5.

Socio-demographic, agricultural, and personal protective factors in relation to health literacy among farmers from all regions of Thailand.

Introduction: Farmers are vulnerable to adverse health effects from pesticide exposure due to their health literacy (HL). Therefore, this study aims to investigate HL among farmers in four main regions of Thailand, investigating socio-demographics, agricultural, and personal protective factors to their HL. Methods: This cross-sectional design study was conducted on 4,035 farmers from January to July 2023. The European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-47 items were used to measure HL. Results: Thai farmers had a mean HL score of 34.7 ± 8.7, and the farmers in the North region of Thailand had the highest frequency of limited HL (75.8%). Socio-demographic factors that were associated with HL included gender, region of living, marital status, education level, co-morbidity, and number of family members. Agricultural factors associated with HL included planting status, working hours on farm, spraying pesticides, harvesting crops, pesticide use of >1 type, access information from government officers, access information from posters/brochures, information from online multimedia, and access information from neighbors. Personal protective factors that were associated with HL included wearing a hat, goggles, a rubber apron, and a long-sleeved shirt. Discussion: Our study recommends that strategies and interventions to enhance the HL of farmers should be focused on the target populations, which include men, widows, or divorced, those with low levels of education, those who have co-morbidities, and those who applied pesticides of more than 1 type and improper personal protective equipment (PPE) use. The primary emphasis needs to be on the North region of Thailand, making that the target area to improve health equity in Thailand. These efforts would enhance the HL of farmers and sustainably improve pesticide safety behavior. Additionally, there is an urgent need for supportive measures aimed at altering on-farm practices and promoting education on alternative pest management strategies, particularly non-chemical crop protection, to ensure sustainable agriculture.

Acute health symptoms related to perception and practice of pesticides use among farmers from all regions of Thailand.

Introduction: Occupational exposure to pesticides may cause acute health effects for farmers and agricultural workers. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of poisoning symptoms related pesticide exposure among farmers from all regions of Thailand, as well as factors linked to poisoning symptoms of neurological and neuromuscular systems, the respiratory system, and eye and skin disorders. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 4,035 farmers who lived in four regions of Thailand. The samples were chosen using stratified random sampling, with 746 for the Central region, 2,065 for the North-East, 586 for the North, and 638 for the South. Results: The results found that the highest prevalence of poisoning symptoms was found in association with neurological and neuromuscular systems (75%), followed by the respiratory system (60.4%), the eyes (41.2%), and skin (14.8%). The most prevalent symptoms were muscle pain (49%) for neurological and neuromuscular symptoms, burning nose (37.6%) for respiratory symptoms, itchy eyes (26.3%) for eye symptoms, and rashes (14.4%) for skin symptoms. The remarkable findings were that types of pesticide use, task on the farm, types of pesticide sprayers, and perception are the crucial factors affecting all poisoning symptoms. Discussion: The findings are also beneficial to the Thai government and other relevant organizations for launching measures, campaigns, or interventions to lower modifiable risk factors, resulting in reducing health risks associated with pesticide exposure.

Changes in agricultural context and mental health of farmers in different regions of Thailand during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Thailand's agricultural sector is crucial to the country's development and economy. The COVID-19 pandemic caused negative effects on the agricultural context and the mental health of Thai farmers. This study aimed to compare changes in the agricultural context and mental health among farmers in different regions of Thailand during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also investigated the determinants associated with the mental health of farmers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2021 to January 2022 in Thailand, with 1,676 Thai farmers interviewed. RESULTS: The results found that the Central region found to be the highest impact of increased agrochemical costs (91.0%) and decreased crop yields (92.0%), while the highest in the North and the North-East was found in decreased crop product prices (84.0 and 66.4%). In the context of economic status, the greatest impact in the Central region was found to be in increased household expense (96.3%), while the highest impact in the North, the North-East, and the South was found in decreased household income (91.5, 80.0, and 69.8%, respectively). Regarding mental health, the Central region was found to be the highest prevalence of extremely high stress and severe depression symptoms (18.3 and 23.4%), whereas the South region was found to be the highest prevalence of severe anxiety symptoms (7.4%). Interestingly, the multivariate analysis also found that the agricultural factors associated with mental health were decreased working days, changes in agrochemical type and crop cultivation, decreased crop rotation, increased difficulty in accessing agrochemicals and markets, decreased crop yields, and increased household debt. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study are useful for government and relevant organizations to plan and implement supportive measures and improve mental health services to mitigate both short and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic suit on the regions. Specific measures and facilities should be tailored toward the target regions.

Changes in lung function and respiratory symptoms during pesticide spraying season among male sprayers.

Exposure to pesticides via inhalation might impair lung function and develop further severe respiratory symptoms and diseases. Thus, the purpose of the study was to compare lung function between pre- and post-pesticide spraying seasons among male sprayers. The study also evaluated the association of lung function changes and other factors with respiratory symptoms. The follow-up study was conducted on 58 male sprayers. The subjects were interviewed and measured lung function before and after pesticide spraying season. The results found that forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate in the post-spraying season were significantly lower than in the pre-spraying season. With regard to respiratory symptoms, cough symptoms were associated with changes in FEV1/FVC [odd ratio (OR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.67)] and smoking status (OR = 12.95, 95%CI = 1.35-124.34). Phlegm symptoms were also associated with changes in FVC (OR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.01-4.25) and FEV1 (OR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.18-0.91). The study provides evidence that pesticide spraying may increase risks for significant alteration of lung function and respiratory symptoms.

DNA damage and adverse neurological outcomes among garlic farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides.

Garlic farmers used organophosphate pesticides to control insects, resulting in an increased risk for adverse health outcomes. Thus, we investigated exposure to organophosphate pesticides, DNA damage, nerve conduction, and neurological symptoms among 134 garlic farmers. They were interviewed, measured nerve conduction, and collected blood and urine for determining DNA damage and dialkylphosphate metabolites. Total dialkylphosphate levels of farmers who began cultivating garlic in October were significantly higher than those of non-farmers and the farmers who began cultivating in November and December. Farmers showed significantly longer comet tail lengths and tail moments than non-farmers. However, their mean compound motor and sensory nerve action potential amplitudes of the median, ulnar, and common peroneal nerves were within normal ranges. Measurement of DNA damage is useful as a biomarker of long-term and low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides; however, electromyography might be not sufficiently sensitive to detect nerve conduction effects in farmers exposed to pesticides.

A longitudinal follow-up study of oxidative stress and DNA damage among farmers exposed to pesticide mixtures.

Exposure to pesticides may have increased risk of oxidative stress and genetic damage and hence of development of chronic diseases. The aim of this longitudinal follow-up study is to compare oxidative stress and DNA damage between the pre- and post-pesticide application seasons among 56 male farmers. The study also investigated the factors associated with changes in oxidative stress, DNA damage, and health symptoms during the pesticide application season. The eligibility criteria for the subjects were men aged between 25 and 55 years, applied pesticide mixtures during May and June 2018, and healthy without current illness. Ten milliliters of venous blood samples was collected twice from each subject in the pre- and post-pesticide application seasons for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), comet tail length, and comet tail moment. The remarkable findings included a statistically significant increase in SOD activity during the pesticide application season (P < 0.001). However, there were no statistical differences in 8-OHdG, comet tail length, and comet tail moment. When we analyzed the factors associated with changes in SOD activity during the pesticide application season by using linear regression analysis, working hours on the farm (B ± SE. = 0.790 ± 0.341, P = 0.025) and planting activities (B ± SE. = 1.217 ± 0.504, P = 0.020) were associated with increase in SOD activity. Therefore, increase in SOD may be a consequence of oxidative damage induced by pesticide exposure and this marker may be used as an early warning for pesticide-induced acute and chronic toxicities.

Association of health symptoms with low-level exposure to organophosphates, DNA damage, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice among rice, corn, and double-crop farmers.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine (1) total dialkylphosphate (ΣDAP) levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, AChE activity, and health symptoms in rice, corn, and double-crop farmers; (2) the association of health symptoms with ΣDAP levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, and AChE activity in farmers; and (3) the prevalence of health symptoms between farmers and non-farmers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing as well as analyzing urine and blood samples during July to August 2014. RESULTS: There were no differences in ΣDAP levels, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice scores among all farmer groups. In terms of health symptoms related to ΣDAP, AChE activity, DNA damage, and occupational knowledge and practice, pesticide-related symptoms were determined, including breathlessness, chest pain, dry throat, numbness, muscle weakness, cramp, headache, dizziness, eye irritation, white/red rash, and white/red pimple, which were classified as respiratory, muscle, nervous, and epithelial symptoms. A remarkable finding was that farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of muscle weakness (odds ratio (OR)=3.79) and numbness (OR=3.45) as compared with non-farmers. CONCLUSION: Our findings, therefore, suggest that a long-term low-level exposure to organophosphates (OPs) may be associated with an increasing prevalence of muscle symptoms. However, a further cohort study incorporating sensitive health outcomes and measurement of multiple pesticides monitoring on a larger scale is warranted.

Comparison of Nutritional Status in Different Type of Exercises.

Background: Nutritional evaluation is necessary in training program for the athletes and general people. Objective: To determine the effect of different types of activities on nutritional status and to compare the nutritional status in people with four groups of activities: 1) national rowing athletes training using mixed aerobic and anaerobic exercises, 2) national bicycle athletes training using aerobic exercise, 3) regular exercise people, and 4) sedentary activities. Material and Method: 18 cases per group for a total of 72 participants were trained in techniques for accurately recorded dietary patterns by the interviewers. Dietary records were analyzed by using INMUCAL-N (WD 4.4) program. Body composition was measured. Results: Mean age were 21.89±5.83, 20.71±3.62, 25.05±7.09, and 20.83±2.09 years respectively. The body mass index among groups was not significantly different (mean 21.87±3.56 kg/m(2)). Sex was not different among groups. All participants had no known chronic or cardiovascular diseases. The athlete groups (Groups 1 and 2) had more total energy intake than the others. Group 2 had the highest percentage of fat contribution per day 37.99±6.06% of total energy per day, (p<0.05). The micro-nutrients by recommended daily allowance (RDA) was not adequate in all groups, including vitamin E (VE), Magnesium (Mg), and Selenium (Se), especially group 4 had not enough ferrous (Fe), vitamin B1 (B1), Niacin (B3), and vitamin C (VC). Conclusion: Several micro-nutrients intakes in all groups did not reach the recommended daily allowance (RDA), especially in females of all group and both sex in the sedentary activities group. The implications of these results for widely propagated sport nutrition are to control the dietary fat intake and increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. We suggest that both education and management of optimum intensity aerobic exercise and controlled dietary fat intake are essential to prevent cardiovascular diseases for the entire population including the training athletes.