Abstract
Abstract: This study aimed to estimate household pesticide exposure in adult individuals in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to verify the accessibility of these products in local and online businesses. The data were collected by an online questionnaire (1,015 responses) and a shelf survey in physical and online stores. Among the responses analyzed, 87.5% used pesticides in the previous year, most of which against mosquitoes (64.7%). The most common application method was aerosol spray (38.1%), and the most frequent places of use were bedrooms (29.7%) and living rooms (22.1%). About 30% of respondents reported invasion of pests, and the most common pests were ants (79.1%) and cockroaches (40.4%). Service area (71.6%) and kitchen (17.5%) were the most common storage locations. Approximately 91% of those who lived with children aged under 18 used pesticides. The use of chemical group of pyrethroids prevailed (81.6%), and 90.8% of the reportedly used products are class II [55.7% (highly toxic)] or class III [35.1% (medium toxic)]. The most significant amount of purchased products was in the pest category, followed by mosquitoes. More variety of products were available in online stores than in physical stores. The high exposure of the population to pesticides at household is a public health issue and confirms the need for studies that better assess the risks and consequences of chronic and low-dose exposure to these substances. It is essential to inform the population about the uncertainties and potential risks of indiscriminate use so that they can choose whether to use pesticides in their households.
Highlights
Pesticides are chemical compounds used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants
Among the respondents who reported the use of some pesticides in the previous year, the majority used them against mosquitoes (64.7%), pests (43.2%), in domestic animals (28.7%) and, in plants (6.4%)
Out of the total valid respondents to the questionnaire, we found that 29.9% reported pest invasion in their households, the most common of which were ants (79.1%), cockroaches (40.4%), flies (22%), moths (21.7%), and termites (19.5%); 29.9% store pesticides at home, and the service area is the most common place (71.6%) followed by the kitchen (17.5%); and 4.9% reported occupational exposure
Summary
Pesticides are chemical compounds used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants (weeds). Human exposure to pesticides is quite common It occurs at high levels in occupational environments (production and spraying activities in agriculture), at low levels in homes, carried mainly in clothes and shoes contaminated by garden treatment [3,4] and as residues in food. Several scientific studies have reported a statistical association between prolonged exposure to pesticides and harmful effects on human health, without sufficient strength to demonstrate causality [5,6,7,8,9,10,11] These effects would include, leukemia, lymphomas, soft tissue sarcomas, brain, bone, and stomach cancer in farmers, sprayers, and agricultural producers 12. A relationship between parental exposure and childhood cancer has been reported in human studies, as well as a role for pesticides in the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease and developmental defects [13,14]
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