The Correlation between Pesticide Exposure and Health Effects among Tobacco Farmers, Northern, Thailand

Abstract

Tobacco farm is one of the crops using load of pesticides, especially Organophosphates pesticides. Enzymes cholinesterase has been used to monitor the extent of organophosphate and carbamates exposure in tobacco farmers. The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to investigate the correlation between pesticide exposure and health effects among tobacco farmers, Northern, Thailand. A questionnaire and blood enzymes erythrocyte cholinesterase test was completed by face to face from 44 tobacco farmers in 2016-2017. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test and Fisher's exact test. The results showed that the most of the participants were female (75.0%), age between 51-60 years (54.5%) and educational levels in primary school (79.5%). It was found that the prevalence of unsafe level of enzymes cholinesterase was 90.9%. Most tobacco farmers mentioned their health symptoms were excessive sweating (47.7%), irritation of the throat and restlessness (34.1%). Some of them reported the running nose and muscle cramp (29.5%). Association between health symptoms and blood enzymes erythrocyte cholinesterase test was shown that; most of the unsafe level of enzyme cholinesterase reported sweating (47.5%). Follow by irritation of the throat (37.5%) and muscle cramp (35.0%). The results can be used as a database for blood enzymes erythrocyte cholinesterase levels. This research suggested that public health education training programs including knowledge regarding to pesticides use and exposure, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for tobacco farmers to improve their ability to handle pesticide and quality of life.