Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: to check and compare female farm workers’ and female tobacco farm workers’ behavior related to the use of pesticides after the pregnancy diagnosis and their effect on the infants’ hearing. Methods: a cross-sectional analytical observational study developed with 59 female farming mothers. From these, 25 were tobacco farm workers (Group F) and 34 were farm workers for other crops (Group A - control). The results of the hearing screening of 59 infants, from both groups, were verified. The anamnesis to raise the risk factor indicators for hearing disabilities as well as the caption of Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) was accomplished. Results: tobacco farming is directly related to the use of pesticides (p=0.0043); laundry of clothes worn to apply the pesticides is an indirect means of exposure/ contamination by pesticides and/or chemical substances (p=0.018); the association between pass/fail results and Hearing Disabilities Risk Indicators (HDRI) of infants in both groups (tobacco farm workers and other workers) did not show significant statistical differences. Conclusion: effects on the hearing health of infants of female tobacco farm workers and other farm workers exposed to pesticides were not found in this research. Further studies on this theme are suggested.
Highlights
Farming has been explored by mankind for over ten thousand years, the intensive use of pesticides to control plagues and farm diseases has existed for a little more than half a century
In the Brazilian reality, it is usual that the responsible for applying the pesticide carries out that activity with his family, and without wearing the Equipment for Personal Protection (EPP)
There was not statistically significant difference in the correlation between stop working after the pregnancy diagnosis and use of pesticides around the house to eliminate plagues
Summary
Farming has been explored by mankind for over ten thousand years, the intensive use of pesticides to control plagues and farm diseases has existed for a little more than half a century. It evolved after the world wars when chemical industry, poison manufacturer to be used as chemical weapons, found a new market in agriculture for its products 1. In the Brazilian reality, it is usual that the responsible for applying the pesticide carries out that activity with his family, and without wearing the Equipment for Personal Protection (EPP). The crops are closer and closer to the residences, where family members stay around, wearing improper clothes and shoes[3]
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