Abstract
Despite the intensive use of pesticides in agriculture there are few studies assessing the risk of respiratory conditions from this exposure. The study aimed at quantifying the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among farmers and evaluating its relationship with occupational use of pesticides and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,379 farmers from two municipalities of Southern Brazil in 1996. Frequency and type of chemical exposure and pesticide poisoning were recorded for both sexes. All subjects aged 15 years or older with at least 15 weekly hours of agricultural activity were interviewed. An adapted questionnaire developed by the American Thoracic Society was used for the assessment of respiratory symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. More than half (55%) of interviewees were male. The prevalence of asthma symptoms was 12% and chronic respiratory disease symptoms was 22%. Higher odds ratios for both asthma (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.07-2.14) and chronic respiratory disease (OR=1.34; 95% CI 1.00-1.81) symptoms were found in women. Logistic regression analysis identified associations between many forms of exposure to pesticides and increased respiratory symptoms. Occurrence of pesticide poisoning was associated with higher prevalence of asthma symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.04-2.58) and chronic respiratory disease symptoms (OR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.08-2.28). In spite of causality limitations, the study results provide evidence that farming exposure to pesticides is associated with higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, especially when the exposure is above two days per month.
Highlights
Several studies[1,12,19,26] have reported increased risk of respiratory problems, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, among agricultural workers
*p-value, linear trend test Odds ratio adjusted by: sex, age, schooling, marital status, smoking, area for agriculture, level of mechanization, gross income, agricultural production, exposure to dust, years living in the farm, and poisoning by pesticides www.fsp.usp.br/rsp analysis of associations between sociodemographic factors and respiratory symptoms
The present study showed that the occupational use of pesticides is associated with increased respiratory symptoms, especially those of asthma
Summary
More than half (55%) of interviewees were male. The prevalence of asthma symptoms was 12% and chronic respiratory disease symptoms was 22%. Occurrence of pesticide poisoning was associated with higher prevalence of asthma symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.04-2.58) and chronic respiratory disease symptoms (OR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.08-2.28). O objetivo do estudo foi dimensionar a prevalência de sintomas respiratórios entre agricultores e avaliar suas relações com o uso ocupacional de agrotóxicos. A prevalência de sintomas de asma foi de 12% e 22% foram considerados como portadores de doença respiratória crônica. A ocorrência de intoxicações por agrotóxicos mostrou-se associada com maior prevalência de sintomas de asma (OR=1,54; IC 95%: 1,04-2,58) e de doença respiratória crônica (OR=1,57; IC 95%: 1,08-2,28). Conclusões Apesar das limitações de causalidade, os resultados evidenciaram que o trabalho agrícola envolvendo agrotóxicos está associado com a elevação da prevalência de sintomas respiratórios, especialmente quando a exposição é superior a dois dias por mês
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