Respiratory Condition of Family Farmers Exposed to Pesticides in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rafael J. Buralli, Helena Ribeiro, Thais Mauad, Luís F. Amato-Lourenço, João M. Salge, Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano, Renata S. Leão, Rejane C. Marques, Daniele S. Silva and Jean Remy Davée Guimarães
Additional contact information
Rafael J. Buralli: Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP 01246-904, Brazil
Helena Ribeiro: Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP 01246-904, Brazil
Thais Mauad: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo, 455, sala 1155, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil
Luís F. Amato-Lourenço: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo, 455, sala 1155, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil
João M. Salge: Pneumologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 44-Bloco II, 5 andar, São Paulo, SP 05403000, Brazil
Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP 01246-904, Brazil
Renata S. Leão: Centro de Tecnologia em Nanomateriais—CTNANO, Rua Prof. José Vieira de Mendonça, 1000, Belo Horizonte, MG 31310-260, Brazil
Rejane C. Marques: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro—Campus Macaé, Av. Aloísio da Silva Gomes, 50, Macaé, RJ 27930-560, Brazil
Daniele S. Silva: Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373-Bloco G-CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
Jean Remy Davée Guimarães: Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373-Bloco G-CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Pesticide exposure is a growing public health concern. Although Brazil is the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, only a few studies have addressed the health effects among farmers. This study aimed to evaluate whether pesticide exposure is associated with respiratory outcomes among rural workers and relatives in Brazil during the crop and off-seasons. Family farmers (82) were interviewed about occupational history and respiratory symptoms, and cholinesterase tests were conducted in the crop-season. Spirometry was performed during the crop and off-season. Respiratory outcomes were compared between seasons and multiple regressions analysis were conducted to search for associations with exposure indicators. Participants were occupationally and environmentally exposed to multiple pesticides from an early age. During the crop and off-season, respectively, they presented a prevalence of 40% and 30.7% for cough, 30.7% and 24% for nasal allergies, and 24% and 17.3% for chest tightness. Significant associations between spirometry impairments and exposure indicators were found both during the crop and off-season. These findings provide complementary evidence about the association of pesticide exposure with adverse respiratory effects among family farmers in Brazil. This situation requires special attention as it may increase the risk of pulmonary dysfunctions, and the morbidity and mortality burden associated with these diseases.

Keywords: pesticides; spirometry; respiratory symptoms; cholinesterase; rural workers; family farmers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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