Abstract
Exposure to insecticides containing organophosphate (OP) and neonicotinoid (NEO) compounds has been associated with adverse reproductive health outcomes. This study characterized and identified predictors of exposure to OP and NEO among 100 reproductive-age farmworkers from two intensive farming areas in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, including 50 each from the Fang (FA) and Chom Thong (CT) districts. OP exposure was determined by measuring the urinary concentrations of six dialkylphosphates (DAPs), whereas NEO exposure was determined by measuring the urinary concentrations of NEO compounds and their metabolites (NEO/m). The most frequently detected OPs were diethylphosphate (DEP) and diethylthiophosphate (DETP), with DETP having the highest geometric mean (GM) concentration, 8.9 μg/g-creatinine. The most frequently detected NEO/m were N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (N-dm-ACE), imidacloprid (IMI), and thiamethoxam (THX), with IMI having the highest GM concentration, 8.7 μg/g-creatinine. Consumption of well water was the predominant determinant of OP and NEO exposure in this population. In addition to encouraging workers to use personal protective equipment, exposure of farmworkers to these compounds may be reduced by nation-wide monitoring agricultural insecticides and other pesticides in community drinking water resources.
Highlights
Agricultural practices in Thailand have changed from traditional to agrochemical-based commercial cultivation, with a 1.8-fold increase in imported pesticides over the past decade, from 109,908 tons in 2008 to 198,317 tons in 2017, resulting in increased productivity [1]
An estimated 34% of the participants were of normal weight, 19% were overweight, 31% were of obese class I, 10% were of obese class II, and 6% were underweight based on the Regional
The present study revealed that Thai reproductive-age farmworkers living in intensive agricultural areas of Chiang Mai Province are exposed to both OP and NEO
Summary
Agricultural practices in Thailand have changed from traditional to agrochemical-based commercial cultivation, with a 1.8-fold increase in imported pesticides over the past decade, from 109,908 tons in 2008 to 198,317 tons in 2017, resulting in increased productivity [1]. 32% of the total workforce is reported as engaged in agriculture, while 47% percent of the total land area is used for agricultural production in Thailand [1,2]. Thailand has long been a major exporter of commodities and in 2016, the exports of rice and natural rubber accounted for 28% of the total value of agricultural exports, followed by fruits and fruit products, accounting for 11%. Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are ubiquitously used in agriculture and in residential applications, with chlorpyrifos. Public Health 2020, 17, 7871; doi:10.3390/ijerph17217871 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
