Potential Risk and Occupational Exposure of Pesticides Among Rice Farmers of a Village Located in Northern Peninsular of Malaysia

Abstract

Farmers globally withstand a range of carcinogenic exposures, including pesticides (solid and liquid), trace elements, wood dusts, and solar radiation. However, the potential risk and occupational exposure require more attention, since farming is a very diverse occupation with many tasks. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess potential risks and occupational exposure of pesticides among rice farmers in Malaysia. Field data are collected in a village located in the Northern Peninsular of Malaysia. Thirty-two farmers (which are assigned as F1 to F32) are selected for a thorough look at the farms. In the Northern Peninsular of Malaysia, four different pesticides are frequently used by the rice farmers including buprofezin, chlorpyrifos, difenoconazole, and lambda cyhalothrin. In order to follow up the right trend of exposure rate (ER), the farmers categorise/rank into two levels, 3 and 4, with respect to hazard rating (HR) and frequency rating (FR), and in terms of magnitude rating (MR), they assort into 3 to 5 levels. Finally, a risk matrix is designed during risk assessment to calculate the risk rating (RR). It can be deduced that the rice farmers are a high-risk group in relation to harmful exposure of pesticides under categories 3 to 5. Since the farmers are exposure to a wide variety of different carcinogens, several risk minimisation strategies (as recommended) are urgently required, in order to reduce the impact of exposure.