Abstract
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are used by most farmers to remove insects and to increase productivity; however, questions remain on the long-term health impacts of their use. This study assessed the relationship between OP biomarker levels and metabolic biomarker parameters. Conventional farmers (n = 213) and organic farmers (n = 225) were recruited, interviewed, and had physical health examinations. Serum glucose and lipid profiles, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were measured. The average age, gender, education, and self-reported agricultural work time, work in second jobs, smoking status, alcohol consumption, insecticide use at home, home location near farmlands and years of pesticide use were significantly different between the conventional and organic farmers. The urinary OP metabolite levels were also significantly different between the two groups. With an increase in urinary diethyl phosphate, dimethyl phosphate and dialkyl phosphate metabolites, the total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, were significantly increased for all farmers after controlling for age, gender, alcohol consumption, years of pesticide use, and home location near farmlands. The results are consistent with our previous studies which suggests that pesticide usage, especially organophosphates, may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke among Thai farmers.
Highlights
Thailand pesticide imports were reduced from 131,148 tons in 2019 to 98,254 tons in 2020, which is probably related to the ban implemented in Thailand in June 2020 for the organophosphate chlorpyrifos and the herbicide paraquat, along with limitations on the use of the herbicide glyphosate [1]
The average age of organic farmers was significantly higher than those of conventional farmers because most of the organic farmers in the current study used to work with pesticides before changing to organic farming
A study among smallholder farmers in Uganda found that the average age of organic farmers (53.5 years) was higher than those conventional farmers (45 years), but in Costa Rica the average of organic farmers
Summary
Thailand pesticide imports were reduced from 131,148 tons in 2019 to 98,254 tons in 2020, which is probably related to the ban implemented in Thailand in June 2020 for the organophosphate chlorpyrifos and the herbicide paraquat, along with limitations on the use of the herbicide glyphosate [1]. Most farmers select types of pesticides to use based on the recommendations of the local pesticide shop and do not have knowledge on their proper use [2,3]. The most used insecticides in Thailand are the organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids [4]. Conventional farmers sometimes mix and spray several pesticides together to save time and the cost of spraying, if sprayers are hired [5]. There were 805 pesticide poisoning cases from organophosphate and carbamate pesticides and 58 deaths reported for the period of October 2018 to June 2019 in Thailand [6]
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