Knowledge, attitude and practices of pesticide use and acetylcholinesterase depression among farm workers in Nepal

Assessing erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in farm workers across agricultural seasons can be used to monitor risks of pesticide exposure. We surveyed a total of 403 households in Nepal and adopted the Test-mate ChE Cholinesterase Test System to monitor AChE activity across season on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental health research 2012-10, Vol.22 (5), p.401-415
Main Authors: Atreya, Kishor, Kumar Sitaula, Bishal, Overgaard, Hans, Man Bajracharya, Roshan, Sharma, Subodh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acetylcholinesterase
Acetylcholinesterase - blood
Adult
Agriculture
Chemical compounds
Cholinesterase
Depression
Environmental health
Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes - enzymology
exposure assessment
Farmers
Farms
Female
Fungicides, Industrial - toxicity
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Households
Human exposure
Humans
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - toxicity
Hygiene
Insecticides - toxicity
Knowledge
Male
Middle Aged
Nepal
Occupational Exposure
Organophosphates
Organophosphates - toxicity
Pesticides
Pyrethrins - toxicity
Seasons
Surveys and Questionnaires
vegetables
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Summary:Assessing erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in farm workers across agricultural seasons can be used to monitor risks of pesticide exposure. We surveyed a total of 403 households in Nepal and adopted the Test-mate ChE Cholinesterase Test System to monitor AChE activity across season on the 127 individuals of the sampled households. The study aims to (i) document knowledge and practices of pesticide use among farmers and (ii) present the relationship between farmers' reported acute health symptoms and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase depression. We found low levels of pesticide use hygiene and high levels of individuals' knowledge on the local environmental impacts of pesticide use. Safety measures taken against potential risks of pesticides exposure were inadequate. Exposure to organophosphates significantly reduced AChE activity across season, but was not sufficient enough to claim clinical symptoms whereas exposure to the pyrethroid insecticides and fungicides were sufficient enough to claim acute symptoms of poisoning.
ISSN:0960-3123
1369-1619
DOI:10.1080/09603123.2011.650154