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Liu Y, Cai S, He X, He X, Yue T. Construction of a Food Safety Evaluation System Based on the Factor Analysis of Mixed Data Method. Foods 2024; 13:2680. [PMID: 39272446 PMCID: PMC11394990 DOI: 10.3390/foods13172680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Food safety evaluation, which aims to reflect food safety status, is an important part of food safety management. Traditional food evaluation methods often consider limited data, and the evaluation process is subjective, time-consuming, and difficult to popularize. We developed a new food safety evaluation system that incorporates simple qualification degrees, food consumption, project hazard degrees, sales channels, food production regions, and other information obtained from food safety sampling and inspection to reflect the food safety situation accurately, objectively, and comprehensively. This evaluation model combined the statistical method and the machine learning method. The optimal distance method was used to calculate the basic qualification degree, and then expert elicitation via a questionnaire and the factor analysis of mixed data method (FADM) was applied to modify the basic qualification degree so as to obtain the food safety index, which indicates food safety status. Then, the effectiveness of this new method was verified by calculating and analyzing of the food safety index in region X. The results show that this model can clearly distinguish food safety levels in different cities and food categories and identify food safety trends in different years. Thus, this food safety evaluation system based on the FADM quantifies the real food safety level, screens out cities and food categories with high food safety risks, and, finally, helps to optimize the allocation of regulatory resources and provide technical and theoretical support for government decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiong Liu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Shengmei Cai
- School of Information Sciences and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Xuelei He
- School of Information Sciences and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Xiaowei He
- School of Information Sciences and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Tianli Yue
- College of Food Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
- Laboratory of Nutritional and Healthy Food-Individuation Manufacturing Engineering, Xi'an 710069, China
- Research Center of Food Safety Risk Assessment and Control, Xi'an 710069, China
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Fuhrimann S, Mueller W, Atuhaire A, Mubeezi R, Ohlander J, Povey A, Basinas I, van Tongeren M, Jones K, Galea KS, Kromhout H. Occupational exposure to pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes. Impact of different original and recalled exposure measures on the associations. Ann Work Expo Health 2024; 68:657-664. [PMID: 38832717 PMCID: PMC11229323 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several measures of occupational exposure to pesticides have been used to study associations between exposure to pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes. This study assessed the impact of different exposure measures for glyphosate and mancozeb on the association with neurobehavioral outcomes based on original and recalled self-reported data with 246 smallholder farmers in Uganda. METHODS The association between the 6 exposure measures and 6 selected neurobehavioral test scores was investigated using linear multivariable regression models. Exposure measures included original exposure measures for the previous year in 2017: (i) application status (yes/no), (ii) number of application days, (iii) average exposure-intensity scores (EIS) of an application and (iv) number of EIS-weighted application days. Two additional measures were collected in 2019: (v) recalled application status and (vi) recalled EIS for the respective periods in 2017. RESULTS Recalled applicator status and EIS were between 1.2 and 1.4 times more frequent and higher for both pesticides than the original application status and EIS. Adverse associations between the different original measures of exposure to glyphosate and 4 neurobehavioral tests were observed. Glyphosate exposure based on recalled information and all mancozeb exposure measures were not associated with the neurobehavioral outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The relation between the different original self-reported glyphosate exposure measures and neurobehavioral test scores appeared to be robust. When based on recalled exposure measures, associations observed with the original exposure measures were no longer present. Therefore, future epidemiological studies on self-reported exposure should critically evaluate the potential bias towards the null in observed exposure-response associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - William Mueller
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North Riccarton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Building, plot 37, YMCA, 41 Buganda Rd, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ruth Mubeezi
- School of Public Health, Makarere University, New Mulago Hill Road, Mulago, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Johan Ohlander
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Crawford House, Booth St E, Manchester M13 9QS, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North Riccarton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Crawford House, Booth St E, Manchester M13 9QS, United Kingdom
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Crawford House, Booth St E, Manchester M13 9QS, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Harpur Hill, Buxton SK17 9JN, United Kingdom
| | - Karen S Galea
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North Riccarton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Hyland C, Meierotto L, Som Castellano RL, Curl CL. Mixed-Methods Assessment of Farmworkers' Perceptions of Workplace Compliance with Worker Protection Standards and Implications for Risk Perceptions and Protective Behaviors. J Agromedicine 2024; 29:355-371. [PMID: 38284770 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2024.2307483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Worker Protection Standards is the primary set of legislation aimed at protecting farmworkers from occupational pesticide exposure in the United States. Previous studies suggest that worker adoption of Pesticide Protective Behaviors (PPBs) promoted by WPS is associated with lower urinary pesticide concentrations. However, adoption of PPBs is often outside of the control of individual farmworkers and dependent on workplace factors such as employer provisioning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and access to trainings/resources. METHODS We conducted a mixed-method study including urinary pesticide biomonitoring, surveys, and interviews with 62 Latinx farmworkers in southwestern Idaho from April to July 2022. We integrated findings across the various data sources to identify emergent themes relating to farmworkers' perceptions of workplace compliance with WPS and potential implications for their pesticide risk perceptions, protective behaviors, and urinary pesticide concentrations. RESULTS Participants reported some indications of poor workplace compliance with WPS regulations, notably inconsistent access to clean handwashing stations and notification of pesticide applications. Some farmworkers, particularly pesticide applicators, viewed herbicides to be categorically safer than other classes of pesticides such as insecticides; these perceptions appeared to influence protective behaviors, such as the relatively low use of PPE while applying herbicides. These findings are underscored by the higher concentrations of biomarkers of herbicides, but not insecticides, among pesticide applicators compared with non-applicators (e.g. median 2,4-D concentrations = 1.40 µg/L among applicators and 0.69 µg/L among non-applicators). Participants further reported concerns regarding the inadequacy of pesticide safety training, pesticide drift, and the lack of communication regarding pesticide applications on and near fields where they are working. DISCUSSION Participants' perceptions that herbicides are categorically safer than other pesticide classes is in direct conflict with WPS training, raising concerns about discrepancies between WPS instruction and other on-the-job training, as well as the inadequate provisioning of PPE during the application of certain pesticides. Our findings also suggest that current WPS regulations may not sufficiently address farmworkers' concerns, particularly in regard to pesticide drift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Hyland
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
- School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Meierotto
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Rebecca L Som Castellano
- Department of Sociology, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
- Department of Human-Environment Systems, School of the Environment, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Cynthia L Curl
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
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Romero Asís MF, Eandi MA, Duque Garzón MO, Builes N, Arias Gonzalez C, Butinof M. Assessing occupational pesticide exposure in Latin America and the Caribbean: Methods review for agricultural vulnerability reduction. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2024; 79:67-82. [PMID: 38767235 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2024.2352033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
B A rapid review was conducted to describe pesticide exposure assessment methodologies in Agricultural Work Contexts (AWC)s in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), in order to provide elements to reduce vulnerabilities within the agricultural population. A final number of 79 articles were selected from Medline via Pubmed, LILACS, and SciELO. In the region, family agriculture is the predominant form of agricultural production (72%) in informal agricultural work contexts (AWCs), which are characterized by small-scale diversified agricultural production, lower educational attainment, limited income, and a lack of social and healthcare security for the families. Indirect exposure assessment methods were the most commonly reported (58%), and its use was associated with informal AWCs (p = 0.011). Understanding AWCs and employing appropriate assessment methods can contribute to addressing vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Florencia Romero Asís
- School of Nutrition - Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba - Argentina. Center for Research in Human Nutrition (CenINH), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Mariana Andrea Eandi
- School of Nutrition - Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba - Argentina. Center for Research in Human Nutrition (CenINH), Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Nicole Builes
- School of Medicine, CES University. Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | | | - Mariana Butinof
- School of Nutrition - Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba - Argentina. Center for Research in Human Nutrition (CenINH), Córdoba, Argentina
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Ssekkadde P, Tomberge VMJ, Brugger C, Atuhaire A, Dalvie MA, Rother HA, Röösli M, Inauen J, Fuhrimann S. Evaluating and Enhancing an Educational Intervention to Reduce Smallholder Farmers' Exposure to Pesticides in Uganda Through a Digital, Systematic Approach to Behavior Change: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e55238. [PMID: 38718387 PMCID: PMC11112482 DOI: 10.2196/55238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smallholder farmers receive educational interventions on safe pesticide handling by governmental agencies, industries, or nongovernmental organizations to reduce exposure risks. However, existing educational interventions have limited effects on changing behaviors. Targeting psychosocial determinants of behavior change in educational interventions through theory- and evidence-based approaches may enhance their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE We aim at describing the intervention development and study design of a 3-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial to assess the effects in improving safe pesticide handling and reducing pesticide exposure of (1) an existing educational intervention and (2) a newly developed SMS text messaging intervention based on the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) behavior change approach. METHODS We enrolled 539 Ugandan smallholder farmers in 12 clusters (subcounties). The clusters, each with 45 farmers, were randomly allocated to one of the three arms: (1) educational intervention, (2) educational intervention+RANAS-based SMS text messages, or (3) control group. The educational intervention comprised a 2-day workshop that targeted multiple aspects of safe pesticide handling, whereas the SMS text messages targeted the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and were based on the RANAS approach. For intervention development in this study, this approach includes identifying psychosocial determinants of PPE use at baseline and selecting behavior change techniques to target them in SMS text messages. The primary outcomes of the study are (1) pesticide knowledge, attitude, and practice scores indicating performance throughout the educational intervention; and (2) frequency of PPE use. Secondary outcomes are the RANAS-based behavioral determinants of PPE use, the frequency of glove use, algorithm-based pesticide exposure intensity scores, and signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning. The outcomes were assessed in structured interviews before the intervention (baseline) and at the 12-month follow-up. The effect of the interventions among the arms will be analyzed using the intervention arms and baseline measures as predictors and the follow-up measures as outcomes in linear multivariable mixed models including the clusters as random effects. The mediating psychosocial determinants of the interventions will be assessed in multiple mediation models. RESULTS The study was conducted from 2020 to 2021-baseline interviews were conducted in October 2020, and the educational intervention was delivered in November 2020. The RANAS-based SMS text messages were developed based on the baseline data for relevant behavioral determinants of PPE use and sent between February 2021 and September 2021. Follow-up interviews were conducted in October 2021. Overall, 539 farmers were enrolled in the study at baseline; 8.3% (45/539) were lost to follow-up by the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS This study will contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness and behavior change mechanisms of educational interventions by using an experimental, cluster-randomized study design to improve pesticide handling among smallholder farmers. TRIAL REGISTRATION International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 18237656; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN18237656. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/55238.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Ssekkadde
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vica Marie Jelena Tomberge
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Curdin Brugger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Hanna-Andrea Rother
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Inauen
- Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Rosa MJ, Armendáriz-Arnez C, Gudayol-Ferré E, Prehn M, Fuhrimann S, Eskenazi B, Lindh CH, Mora AM. Association of pesticide exposure with neurobehavioral outcomes among avocado farmworkers in Mexico. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 256:114322. [PMID: 38219443 PMCID: PMC10956701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM To date, few studies have focused on the health effects of pesticide exposure among avocado farmworkers. We examined the association of exposure to insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides with cognitive and mental health outcomes among these avocado workers from Michoacan, Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 105 avocado farmworkers between May and August 2021. We collected data on self-reported pesticide use during the 12 months prior to the baseline survey and estimated annual exposure-intensity scores (EIS) using a semi-quantitative exposure algorithm. We calculated specific gravity adjusted average concentrations of 12 insecticide, fungicide, or herbicide metabolites measured in urine samples collected during two study visits (8-10 weeks apart). We assessed participants' cognitive function and psychological distress using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery and the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), respectively. We examined individual associations of EIS and urinary pesticide metabolites with neurobehavioral outcomes using generalized linear regression models. We also implemented Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum (BWQS) regression to evaluate the association between a pesticide metabolite mixture and neurobehavioral outcomes. RESULTS In individual models, after adjusting for multiple comparisons, higher concentrations of hydroxy-tebuconazole (OH-TEB, metabolite of fungicide tebuconazole) were associated with higher anxiety (IRR per two-fold increase in concentrations = 1.26, 95% CI:1.08, 1.48) and Global Severity Index (GSI) (IRR = 1.89, 95% CI:1.36, 2.75) scores, whereas higher concentrations of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy, metabolite of chlorpyrifos) were associated with lower GSI scores (IRR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.85). In BWQS analyses, we found evidence of a mixture association of urinary pesticide metabolites with higher anxiety (IRR = 1.72, 95% CrI: 1.12, 2.55), depression (IRR = 4.60, 95% CrI: 2.19, 9.43), and GSI (IRR = 1.99, 95% CrI: 1.39, 2.79) scores. OH-TEB and hydroxy-thiabendazole (metabolite of fungicide thiabendazole) combined contributed 54%, 40%, and 54% to the mixture effect in the anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and overall psychological distress models, respectively. CONCLUSIONS We found that exposure to tebuconazole and thiabendazole, fungicides whose effects have been rarely studied in humans, may be associated with increased psychological distress among avocado farmworkers. We also observed that exposure to chlorpyrifos may be associated with decreased psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria José Rosa
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Cynthia Armendáriz-Arnez
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Morelia, Mexico
| | - Esteve Gudayol-Ferré
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico
| | - Manuela Prehn
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Morelia, Mexico
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ana M Mora
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
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Petit P, Gondard E, Gandon G, Moreaud O, Sauvée M, Bonneterre V. Agricultural activities and risk of Alzheimer's disease: the TRACTOR project, a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Eur J Epidemiol 2024; 39:271-287. [PMID: 38195954 PMCID: PMC10995077 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-023-01079-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Data regarding Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurrence in farming populations is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether, among the entire French farm manager (FM) workforce, certain agricultural activities are more strongly associated with AD than others, using nationwide data from the TRACTOR (Tracking and monitoring occupational risks in agriculture) project. Administrative health insurance data (digital electronic health/medical records and insurance claims) for the entire French agricultural workforce, over the period 2002-2016, on the entire mainland France were used to estimate the risk of AD for 26 agricultural activities with Cox proportional hazards model. For each analysis (one for each activity), the exposed group included all FMs that performed the activity of interest (e.g. crop farming), while the reference group included all FMs who did not carry out the activity of interest (e.g. FMs that never farmed crops between 2002 and 2016). There were 5067 cases among 1,036,069 FMs who worked at least one year between 2002 and 2016. Analyses showed higher risks of AD for crop farming (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.72 [3.47-3.98]), viticulture (HR = 1.29 [1.18-1.42]), and fruit arboriculture (HR = 1.36 [1.15-1.62]). By contrast, lower risks of AD were found for several animal farming types, in particular for poultry and rabbit farming (HR = 0.29 [0.20-0.44]), ovine and caprine farming (HR = 0.50 [0.41-0.61]), mixed dairy and cow farming (HR = 0.46 [0.37-0.57]), dairy farming (HR = 0.67 [0.61-0.73]), and pig farming (HR = 0.30 [0.18-0.52]). This study shed some light on the association between a wide range of agricultural activities and AD in the entire French FMs population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Petit
- CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France.
- Centre Régional de Pathologies Professionnelles et Environnementales, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France.
- AGEIS, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France.
| | - Elise Gondard
- CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Gérald Gandon
- Centre Régional de Pathologies Professionnelles et Environnementales, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Olivier Moreaud
- Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neurocognition, UMR 5105, CNRS, LPNC, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Mathilde Sauvée
- Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherche, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Psychologie et Neurocognition, UMR 5105, CNRS, LPNC, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Vincent Bonneterre
- CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Centre Régional de Pathologies Professionnelles et Environnementales, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
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Mueller W, Jones K, Fuhrimann S, Ahmad ZNBS, Sams C, Harding AH, Povey A, Atuhaire A, Basinas I, van Tongeren M, Kromhout H, Galea KS. Factors influencing occupational exposure to pyrethroids and glyphosate: An analysis of urinary biomarkers in Malaysia, Uganda and the United Kingdom. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117651. [PMID: 37996007 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term exposure to pesticides is often assessed using semi-quantitative models. To improve these models, a better understanding of how occupational factors determine exposure (e.g., as estimated by biomonitoring) would be valuable. METHODS Urine samples were collected from pesticide applicators in Malaysia, Uganda, and the UK during mixing/application days (and also during non-application days in Uganda). Samples were collected pre- and post-activity on the same day and analysed for biomarkers of active ingredients (AIs), including synthetic pyrethroids (via the metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA]) and glyphosate, as well as creatinine. We performed multilevel Tobit regression models for each study to assess the relationship between exposure modifying factors (e.g., mixing/application of AI, duration of activity, personal protective equipment [PPE]) and urinary biomarkers of exposure. RESULTS From the Malaysia, Uganda, and UK studies, 81, 84, and 106 study participants provided 162, 384 and 212 urine samples, respectively. Pyrethroid use on the sampling day was most common in Malaysia (n = 38; 47%), and glyphosate use was most prevalent in the UK (n = 93; 88%). Median pre- and post-activity 3-PBA concentrations were similar, with higher median concentrations post-compared to pre-activity for glyphosate samples in the UK (1.7 to 0.5 μg/L) and Uganda (7.6 to 0.8 μg/L) (glyphosate was not used in the Malaysia study). There was evidence from individual studies that higher urinary biomarker concentrations were associated with mixing/application of the AI on the day of urine sampling, longer duration of mixing/application, lower PPE protection, and less education/literacy, but no factor was consistently associated with exposure across biomarkers in the three studies. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a need for AI-specific interpretation of exposure modifying factors as the relevance of exposure routes, levels of detection, and farming systems/practices may be very context and AI-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Zulkhairul Naim Bin Sidek Ahmad
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department Medical Education and Department Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Craig Sams
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Buxton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Karen S Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Hyland C, Hernandez A, Gaudreau É, Larose J, Bienvenu JF, Meierotto L, Som Castellano RL, Curl CL. Examination of urinary pesticide concentrations, protective behaviors, and risk perceptions among Latino and Latina farmworkers in Southwestern Idaho. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 255:114275. [PMID: 37866282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies have documented high levels of pesticide exposure among men farmworkers; however, few have examined exposures or the experiences of women farmworkers. Data gaps also exist regarding farmworkers' perceived risk and control related to pesticides, information that is critical to develop protective interventions. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare urinary pesticide biomarker concentrations between Latino and Latina farmworkers and examine associations with occupational characteristics, risk perceptions, perceived control, and protective behaviors. METHODS We enrolled a convenience sample of 62 farmworkers (30 men and 32 women) during the pesticide spray season from April-July 2022 in southwestern Idaho. Participants were asked to complete two visits within a seven-day period; at each visit, we collected a urine sample and administered a questionnaire assessing demographic and occupational information. Urine samples were composited and analyzed for 17 biomarkers of herbicides and of organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid insecticides. RESULTS Ten pesticide biomarkers (TCPy, MDA, PNP, 3-PBA, 4-F-3-PBA, cis- and trans-DCCA, 2,4-D, Glyphosate, AMPA) were detected in >80% of samples. Men and women had similar urinary biomarker concentrations (p = 0.19-0.94); however, women worked significantly fewer hours than men (p = 0.01), wore similar or greater levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and were slightly more likely to report having experienced an Acute Pesticide Poisoning (26% of women vs. 14% of men; p = 0.25). We observed inconsistencies in risk perceptions, perceived control, and protective behaviors among men. DISCUSSION Our study is one the first to examine pesticide exposure and risk perceptions among a cohort of farmworkers balanced on gender. Taken with previous findings, our results suggest that factors such as job tasks, biological susceptibility, or access to trainings and protective equipment might uniquely impact women farmworkers' exposure and/or vulnerability to pesticides. Women represent an increasing proportion of the agricultural workforce, and larger studies are needed to disentangle these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Hyland
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA; Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
| | - Alejandra Hernandez
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jessica Larose
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Bienvenu
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Lisa Meierotto
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | | | - Cynthia L Curl
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
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Ottenbros IB, Ammann P, Imboden M, Fuhrimann S, Zock JP, Lebret E, Vermeulen RCH, Nijssen R, Lommen A, Mol H, Vlaanderen JJ, Probst-Hensch N. Urinary pesticide mixture patterns and exposure determinants in the adult population from the Netherlands and Switzerland: Application of a suspect screening approach. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117216. [PMID: 37805179 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-occupational sources of pesticide exposure may include domestic pesticide usage, diet, occupational exposure of household members, and agricultural activities in the residential area. We conducted a study with the ambition to characterize pesticide mixture patterns in a sample of the adult population of the Netherlands and Switzerland, using a suspect screening approach and to identify related exposure determinants. METHODS A total of 105 and 295 adults participated in the Dutch and Swiss studies, respectively. First morning void urine samples were collected and analyzed in the same laboratory. Harmonized questionnaires about personal characteristics, pesticide-related activities, and diet were administered. Detection rates and co-occurrence patterns were calculated to explore internal pesticide exposure patterns. Censored linear and logistic regression models were constructed to investigate the association between exposure and domestic pesticide usage, consumption of homegrown and organic foods, household members' exposure, and distance to agricultural and forest areas. RESULTS From the 37 detected biomarkers, 3 (acetamiprid (-CH2), chlorpropham (4-HSA), and flonicamid (-C2HN)) were detected in ≥40% of samples. The most frequent combination of biomarkers (acetamiprid-flonicamid) was detected in 22 (5.5%) samples. Regression models revealed an inverse association between high organic vegetable and fruit consumption and exposure to acetamiprid, chlorpropham, propamocarb (+O), and pyrimethanil (+O + SO3). Within-individual correlations in repeated samples (summer/winter) from the Netherlands were low (≤0.3), and no seasonal differences in average exposures were observed in Switzerland. CONCLUSION High consumption of organic fruit and vegetables was associated with lower pesticide exposure. In the two countries, detection rates and co-occurrence were typically low, and within-person variability was high. Our study results provide an indication for target biomarkers to include in future studies aimed at quantifying urinary exposure levels in European adult populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- I B Ottenbros
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Center for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - P Ammann
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Imboden
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - S Fuhrimann
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - J-P Zock
- Center for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - E Lebret
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Center for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - R C H Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - R Nijssen
- Wageningen Food Safety Research - Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - A Lommen
- Wageningen Food Safety Research - Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - H Mol
- Wageningen Food Safety Research - Part of Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - J J Vlaanderen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| | - N Probst-Hensch
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003, Basel, Switzerland.
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11
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Fuhrimann S, Mueller W, Atuhaire A, Ohlander J, Mubeezi R, Povey A, Basinas I, van Tongeren M, Jones K, Sams C, Galea KS, Kromhout H. Self-reported and urinary biomarker-based measures of exposure to glyphosate and mancozeb and sleep problems among smallholder farmers in Uganda. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 182:108277. [PMID: 38006769 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aim to showcase the impact of applying eight different self-reported and urinary biomarker-based exposure measures for glyphosate and mancozeb on the association with sleep problems in a study among 253 smallholder farmers in Uganda. METHODS The questionnaire-based exposure measures included: (1) the number of application days of any pesticide in the last 7 days (never, 1-2; >2 days) and six glyphosate and mancozeb-specific measures: (2) application status over the last 12 months (yes/no), (3) recent application status (never, last 7 days and last 12 months), (4) the number of application days last 12 months, (5) average exposure-intensity scores (EIS) and (6) EIS-weighted number of application days in last 12 months. Based on 384 repeated urinary biomarker concentrations of ethylene thiourea (ETU) and glyphosate from 84 farmers, we also estimated (7) average biomarker concentrations for all 253 farmers. Also in the 84 farmers the measured pre-work and post-work biomarker concentrations were used (8). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the exposure measures and selected Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) indices (6-item, sleep inadequacy and snoring). RESULTS We observed positive associations between (1) any pesticide application in the last 7 days with all three MOS-SS indices. Glyphosate application in the last 7 days (3) and mancozeb application in the last 12 months (3) were associated with the 6-item sleep problem index. The estimated average urinary glyphosate concentrations showed an exposure-response association with the 6-item sleep problem index and sleep inadequacy in the same direction as based on self-reported glyphosate application in the last 7 days. In the analysis with the subset of 84 farmers, both measured and modelled post-work urinary glyphosate concentration showed an association with snoring. CONCLUSIONS Self-reported, estimated average biomarker concentrations and measured urinary biomarker exposure measures of glyphosate and mancozeb showed similar exposure-response associations with sleep outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Johan Ohlander
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ruth Mubeezi
- Makarere University, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Craig Sams
- Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Karen S Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Rai R, Fritschi L, Glass DC, Dorji N, El-Zaemey S. Comparison of agreement in asthmagen exposure assessments between rule-based automatic algorithms and a job exposure matrix in healthcare workers in Australia and Bhutan. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2089. [DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14514-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Assessment of occupational exposures is an integral component of population-based studies investigating the epidemiology of occupational diseases. However, all the available methods for exposure assessment have been developed, tested and used in high-income countries. Except for a few studies examining pesticide exposures, there is limited research on whether these methods are appropriate for assessing exposure in LMICs. The aim of this study is to compare a task-specific algorithm-based method (OccIDEAS) to a job-specific matrix method (OAsJEM) in the assessment of asthmagen exposures among healthcare workers in a high-income country and a low- and middle- income country (LMIC) to determine an appropriate assessment method for use in LMICs for future research.
Methods:
Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey of occupational asthmagens exposure in Australia and a cross-sectional survey of occupational chemical exposure among Bhutanese healthcare workers. Exposure was assessed using OccIDEAS and the OAsJEM. Prevalence of exposure to asthmagens and inter-rater agreement were calculated.
Results:
In Australia, the prevalence was higher for a majority of agents when assessed by OccIDEAS than by the OAsJEM (13 versus 3). OccIDEAS identified exposures to a greater number of agents (16 versus 7). The agreement as indicated by κ (Cohen’s Kappa coefficient) for six of the seven agents assessed was poor to fair (0.02 to 0.37). In Bhutan, the prevalence of exposure assessed by OccIDEAS was higher for four of the seven agents and κ was poor for all the four agents assessed (-0.06 to 0.13). The OAsJEM overestimated exposures to high-level disinfectants by assigning exposures to all participants from 10 (Bhutan) and 12 (Australia) ISCO-88 codes; whereas OccIDEAS assigned exposures to varying proportions of participants from these ISCO-codes.
Conclusion:
There was poor to fair agreement in the assessment of asthmagen exposure in healthcare workers between the two methods. The OAsJEM overestimated the prevalence of certain exposures. As compared to the OAsJEM, OccIDEAS appeared to be more appropriate for evaluating cross-country exposures to asthmagens in healthcare workers due to its inherent quality of assessing task-based determinants and its versatility in being adaptable for use in different countries with different exposure circumstances.
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Ong-Artborirak P, Boonchieng W, Juntarawijit Y, Juntarawijit C. Potential Effects on Mental Health Status Associated with Occupational Exposure to Pesticides among Thai Farmers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:9654. [PMID: 35955007 PMCID: PMC9367823 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide-related mental health issues in Thailand, an upper-middle-income country, are not well known. This study aimed to investigate the association between the history of occupational exposure to pesticides and the mental health of Thai farmers. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the areas around Chiang Mai, a large city in Northern Thailand, between June 2020 and January 2021. A total of 6974 farmers from six districts were interviewed to determine whether they regularly experienced symptoms related to mental health by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) as well as their lifetime history of agricultural pesticide exposure from 31 active ingredients and five functional categories: insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and molluscicides. The cut-off of 6 was used to evaluate probable mental disorder. Most of the farmers under investigation were men (53.8%), with a mean age of 55.2 (11.7) years, and were involved mainly in the planting of rice, fruit, and vegetables. About 86.7% reported having used pesticides on their crops at some point in their lives-mostly glyphosate, paraquat, 2,4-D, methomyl, and carbofuran. All functional groups, as well as pesticide classes like organochlorines, organophosphates, and carbamates, were significantly associated with a higher risk of probable mental disorder based on exposure duration, frequency, personal protective equipment usage, and hygienic behavior. In a model with multiple pesticides, there was an association between mental disorder and exposure to endosulfan (AOR = 2.27, 95%CI = 1.26-4.08) and methyl parathion (AOR = 2.26, 95%CI = 1.26-4.06). Having previously reported pesticide poisoning symptoms was related to mental disorder (AOR = 7.97, 95%CI = 5.16-12.31), the findings provided evidence of pesticide exposure posing a risk to farmers' mental health, particularly long-term and high-intensity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parichat Ong-Artborirak
- Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Community Health Informatics, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Waraporn Boonchieng
- Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Community Health Informatics, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | | | - Chudchawal Juntarawijit
- Faculty of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
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The Integration of Local Actors in Policy Implementation: The Case of Organic Farming in Costa Rica. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14127265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Like other countries of the world, Costa Rica faced the challenge of dealing with a variety of trade-offs when implementing sustainability goals in agriculture. Very often, economic promotion is in conflict with goals regarding human and environmental health protection. Organic farming practices could provide strategies to overcome some of these trade-offs. However, in Costa Rica, the majority of farmers still relies on conventional farm practices. In this paper, I investigate the potential for a sustainable transformation in Costa Rica’s agriculture by focusing on organic farming policies. I shed light on the role local actors and organizations play in this process compared to other actor types. I argue that local actors are “the agents of change” in these processes, as these are the target groups of organic farming policies and are the ones who are asked to change their farm practices. Based on survey data and network analysis, I was able to illustrate how differently integrated local actors are compared to other actor types in Costa Rica’s implementation of organic farming policies. Local actors show interest and willingness to further participate in land-use implementation processes when institutional barriers are alleviated, and further promotion instruments are available.
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Khacha-ananda S, Intayoung U, Wunnapuk K, Kohsuwan K, Srisai P, Sapbamrer R. Urinary Levels of Sirtuin-1, π-Glutathione S-Transferase, and Mitochondrial DNA in Maize Farmer Occupationally Exposed to Herbicide. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10050252. [PMID: 35622665 PMCID: PMC9145378 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between agrochemical exposure and risk of renal injury. Farmers face great risks to developing adverse effects. The most appropriate biomarker related to renal injury needs to be developed to encounter earlier detection. We aim to study the association between early renal biomarker and occupational herbicide exposure in maize farmers, Thailand. Sixty-four farmers were recruited and interviewed concerning demographic data, herbicide usage, and protective behavior. Two spot urines before (pre-work task) and after (post-work task) herbicide spraying were collected. To estimate the intensity of exposure, the cumulative herbicide exposure intensity index (cumulative EII) was also calculated from activities on the farm, type of personal protective equipment (PPE) use, as well as duration and frequency of exposure. Four candidate renal biomarkers including π-GST, sirtuin-1, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were measured. Most subjects were male and mostly sprayed three herbicides including glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH), paraquat, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). A type of activity in farm was mixing and spraying herbicide. Our finding demonstrated no statistical significance of all biomarker levels between pre- and post-work task urine. To compare between single and cocktail use of herbicide, there was no statistical difference in all biomarker levels between pre- and post-work task urine. However, the urinary mtDNA seems to be increased in post-work task urine. Moreover, the cumulative EII was strongly associated with change in mtDNA content in both ND-1 and COX-3 gene. The possibility of urinary mtDNA as a valuable biomarker was promising as a noninvasive benchmark for early detection of the risk of developing renal injury from herbicide exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supakit Khacha-ananda
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Inthawarorot Road, Sri Phum, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (U.I.); (K.W.); (K.K.)
- Research Center in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 239, Huay Kaew Road, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Correspondence:
| | - Unchisa Intayoung
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Inthawarorot Road, Sri Phum, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (U.I.); (K.W.); (K.K.)
| | - Klintean Wunnapuk
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Inthawarorot Road, Sri Phum, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (U.I.); (K.W.); (K.K.)
| | - Kanyapak Kohsuwan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Inthawarorot Road, Sri Phum, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (U.I.); (K.W.); (K.K.)
| | | | - Ratana Sapbamrer
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
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Mueller W, Atuhaire A, Mubeezi R, van den Brenk I, Kromhout H, Basinas I, Jones K, Povey A, van Tongeren M, Harding AH, Galea KS, Fuhrimann S. Evaluation of two-year recall of self-reported pesticide exposure among Ugandan smallholder farmers. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 240:113911. [PMID: 35030437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate smallholder farmers' recall of pesticide use and exposure determinants over a two-year period in a low-income country context. METHODS The Pesticide Use in Tropical Settings (PESTROP) study in Uganda consists of 302 smallholder farmers who were interviewed in 2017. In the same season in 2019, these farmers were re-questioned concerning pesticide use (e.g., use of active ingredients) and exposure information (e.g., crops, personal protective equipment [PPE], hygienic behaviours) they had previously provided. The extent of recall bias was assessed by comparing responses at follow-up in 2019 with practices and behaviours reported from the baseline interview in 2017. RESULTS An 84% (n = 255) follow-up response rate was attained. We found instances of better recall (e.g., overall agreement >70% and Area Under the Curve (AUC) values > 0.7) for the use of some active ingredients, commonly used PPE items, and washing clothes after application, whereas only 13.3% could correctly recall their three major crops. We observed a trend where more individuals reported the use of active ingredients, while fewer reported the use of PPE items, two years later. In general, we found better agreement in the recall of years working with pesticides compared to hours per day or days per week in the field, with no apparent systematic over or under reporting by demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS While some of these findings provide consistency with those from high-income countries, more research is needed on recall in poorly educated agriculture communities in low- and middle-income settings to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ruth Mubeezi
- Makerere University, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Iris van den Brenk
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Karen S Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Fuhrimann S, van den Brenk I, Atuhaire A, Mubeezi R, Staudacher P, Huss A, Kromhout H. Recent pesticide exposure affects sleep: A cross-sectional study among smallholder farmers in Uganda. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106878. [PMID: 34592653 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poorly educated smallholder farmers in low-income countries are highly exposed to pesticides. This can result in adverse mental health issues, of which sleep problems might be an underlying indicator. We aim to examine the association between sleep problems and pesticide exposure among smallholder farmers in Uganda. METHODS A cross-sectional survey with 253 smallholder farmers was conducted between October and December 2019. Sleep problems were assessed during the week before the visit using the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS). Exposure to pesticides was assessed as application days of any pesticide and as use of 2,4-D, glyphosate, mancozeb, organophosphates & carbamates, pyrethroids and other pesticides during the week and year prior to the visit. Associations were assessed using adjusted multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS Increased odds ratio (OR) for the sleep problem index 6-items (OR [95% Confidence Interval] 1.99 [1.04; 3.84] and 3.21 [1.33; 7.82]), sleep inadequacy (1.94 [1.04; 3.66] and 2.49 [1.05-6.22]) and snoring (3.17 [1.12; 9.41] and 4.07 [1.04; 15.14]) were observed for farmers who respectively applied pesticides up to two days and three or more days in the past week compared to farmers who did not apply during the past week. Gender-stratified analyses showed a higher OR for female applicators (4.27 [1.76-11.16]) than for male applicators (1.82 [0.91-3.79]) for the association between the sleep problem index 6-items and pesticide use in the week before the visit. Increased ORs were also observed for the association between the sleep problem index 6-item and mancozeb exposure during the past year 2.28 [1.12-4.71] and past week 2.51 [0.86-7.55] and glyphosate exposure during the past week 3.75 [1.24-11.8] compared to non-applicators. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest an increased risk of sleep problems among smallholder farmers in a pesticide-exposure-dependent way in a low-income context. Further gender-stratified, longitudinal investigations are warranted to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Iris van den Brenk
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ruth Mubeezi
- Makerere University, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, CHN, Universitätsstrasse 16, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Filippi I, Lucero P, Bonansea RI, Lerda D, Butinof M, Fernandez RA, Wunderlin DA, Amé MV, Muñoz SE. Validation of exposure indexes to pesticides through the analysis of exposure and effect biomarkers in ground pesticide applicators from Argentina. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07921. [PMID: 34522813 PMCID: PMC8427256 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The characterization of the population exposed to pesticides and the use of effective biomarkers to evaluate potential health effects are determinant to identify vulnerable groups, understanding the causality of diverse pathologies and propose prevention policies. This is particularly important in countries where intensive agricultural practices had an explosive expansion in last decades. The aim of this study was assessing the usefulness of two exposure indexes questionnaire-based: Intensity Level of the pesticide Exposure (ILE) and Cumulative Exposure Index (CEI) and their scales, in terrestrial applicators of pesticide from the Province of Córdoba (Argentina). The analysis was performed contrasting ILE and CEI results with perceived symptomatology, in addition to effect and exposure biomarkers. A cross-sectional study was designed to compare pesticides body burdens and effect biomarkers between subjects occupationally (OE) and non-occupationally exposed (NOE) to pesticides. Prevalence of perceived symptomatology and genotoxicity damage was higher in the OE group. The exposure condition was the only variable explaining these differences. Significant associations were found between CEI and neurologic symptomatology (p < 0.05) and between ILE and plasmatic cholinesterase (p < 0.1). However, residues of HCB, β-HCH, α-endosulfan, pp'DDE, endrin, β-endosulfan, pp'DDT, endosulfan sulfate and mirex were found in blood samples from both groups. To our knowledge, this is the first report on pesticides body burdens in occupational exposure settings in Argentina. So far, our current results indicate that the occupational condition affects the health of the workers. Significant associations found between symptomatology and biomarkers with scales of CEI and ILE suggest their usefulness to verify different levels of exposure. Further research is necessary to propose these indexes as an affordable tool for occupational health surveillance in areas with difficult access to health care centres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iohanna Filippi
- CIBICI: Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Dpto. Bioquímica Clínica, Ciudad Universitaria, Medina Allende esq. Haya de La Torre, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Patricia Lucero
- Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de Córdoba (CEPROCOR), X5164, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Rocio I. Bonansea
- ICYTAC: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Dpto. Química Orgánica, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel Lerda
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Mariana Butinof
- Escuela de Nutrición, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ricardo A. Fernandez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel A. Wunderlin
- ICYTAC: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Dpto. Química Orgánica, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María V. Amé
- CIBICI: Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Dpto. Bioquímica Clínica, Ciudad Universitaria, Medina Allende esq. Haya de La Torre, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sonia E. Muñoz
- INICSA: Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
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Farnham A, Fuhrimann S, Staudacher P, Quirós-Lépiz M, Hyland C, Winkler MS, Mora AM. Long-Term Neurological and Psychological Distress Symptoms among Smallholder Farmers in Costa Rica with a History of Acute Pesticide Poisoning. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179021. [PMID: 34501611 PMCID: PMC8431685 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Studies suggest that acute pesticide poisonings (APP) may be linked with long-term neurological effects. To examine long-term neurological and psychological distress symptoms associated with having experienced an APP, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 300 conventional and organic smallholder farmers from Zarcero County, Costa Rica, May–August 2016. We collected self-reported data on sociodemographic characteristics, occupational history, pesticide exposure, APPs, neurological and psychological distress symptoms (using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)). Adjusted logistic regression models were fit. A total of 14% of the farmers (98% male) reported experiencing at least one APP during their lifetime. Self-reported APP was associated with neurological symptoms during the 12 months prior to interview (e.g., fainting (Odds Ratio: 7.48, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.83, 30.74), shaking hands (3.50; 1.60, 7.60), numbness/tingling in hands or feet (3.23; 1.66, 6.32), insomnia (2.53; 1.34, 4.79), accelerated heartrate (2.42; 1.03, 5.47), dizziness (2.38; 1.19, 4.72), increased irritability/anger (2.37; 1.23, 4.55), low energy (2.33; 1.23, 4.46), and difficulty concentrating (2.01; 1.05, 3.85)). Farmers who reported an APP in the ten years prior to interview experienced increased odds of abnormal BSI scores for hostility (4.51; 1.16, 17.70) and paranoid ideation (3.76; 0.99, 18.18). Having experienced an APP may be associated with long-term neurological and psychological distress symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Farnham
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; (S.F.); (M.S.W.)
- Swiss TPH, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; (S.F.); (M.S.W.)
- Swiss TPH, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80177, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland;
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcela Quirós-Lépiz
- Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 83-3000, Costa Rica; (M.Q.-L.); (C.H.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Carly Hyland
- Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 83-3000, Costa Rica; (M.Q.-L.); (C.H.); (A.M.M.)
- Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 265, Berkeley, CA 94720-7392, USA
| | - Mirko S. Winkler
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; (S.F.); (M.S.W.)
- Swiss TPH, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ana M. Mora
- Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 83-3000, Costa Rica; (M.Q.-L.); (C.H.); (A.M.M.)
- Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 265, Berkeley, CA 94720-7392, USA
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20
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Fuhrimann S, Farnham A, Staudacher P, Atuhaire A, Manfioletti T, Niwagaba CB, Namirembe S, Mugweri J, Winkler MS, Portengen L, Kromhout H, Mora AM. Exposure to multiple pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes among smallholder farmers in Uganda. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 152:106477. [PMID: 33756429 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to single pesticide active ingredients or chemical groups is associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in farmers. In agriculture, exposure to multiple pesticide active ingredients is the rule, rather than exception. Therefore, occupational studies on neurobehavioral effects of pesticides should account for potential co-exposure confounding. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 288 Ugandan smallholder farmers between September and December 2017. We collected data on self-reported use of pesticide products during the 12 months prior to survey and estimated yearly exposure-intensity scores for 14 pesticide active ingredients using a semi-quantitative exposure algorithm. We administered 11 neurobehavioral tests to assess five neurobehavioral domains. We implemented a Bayesian Model-Averaging (BMA) approach to examine the association between exposure to multiple pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes, while accounting for multiple testing. We applied two levels of inference to determine (1) which neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with overall pesticide exposure (marginal inclusion probability (MIP) for covariate-only models <0.5) and (2) which specific pesticide active ingredients were associated with these outcomes (MIP for models where active ingredient was included >0.5). RESULTS Seventy-two percent of farmers reported use of pesticide products that contained at least one of 14 active ingredients, while the applicators used in median three different active ingredients (interquartile range (IQR) 4) in the 12 months prior to the study. The most widely used active ingredients were glyphosate (79%), cypermethrin (60%), and mancozeb (55%). We found that overall pesticide exposure was associated with impaired visual memory (Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT)), language (semantic verbal fluency test), perceptual-motor function (Finger tapping test), and complex attention problems (Trail making A test and digit symbol test). However, when we looked at the associations for individual active ingredients, we only observed a positive association between glyphosate exposure and impaired visual memory (-0.103 [95% Bayesian Credible Interval (BCI)] [-0.24, 0] units in BVRT scores per interquartile range (IQR) increase in annual exposure to glyphosate, relative to a median [IQR] of 6 [3] units in BVRT across the entire study population). CONCLUSIONS We found that overall pesticide exposure was associated with several neurobehavioral outcome variables. However, when we examined individual pesticide active ingredients, we observed predominantly null associations, except for a positive association between glyphosate exposure and impaired visual memory. Additional epidemiologic studies are needed to evaluate glyphosate's neurotoxicity, while accounting for co-pollutant confounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Andrea Farnham
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tiziana Manfioletti
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charles B Niwagaba
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sarah Namirembe
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jonathan Mugweri
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mirko S Winkler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lutzen Portengen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ana M Mora
- Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances (IRET), Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica; Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
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21
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Paumgartten FJR. Letter to the Editor regarding "Multi-biomarker responses to pesticides in an agricultural population from Central Brazil" by. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 764:144298. [PMID: 33385657 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J R Paumgartten
- National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-361, Brazil.
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22
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Hansen MRH, Jørs E, Sandbæk A, Sekabojja D, Ssempebwa JC, Mubeezi R, Staudacher P, Fuhrimann S, Sigsgaard T, Burdorf A, Bibby BM, Schlünssen V. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticide exposure is related to lung function change among smallholder farmers: a prospective study. Thorax 2021; 76:thoraxjnl-2020-214609. [PMID: 33479045 PMCID: PMC8311090 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-214609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM Exposure to some insecticides may cause airway obstruction, but existing evidence is limited by cross-sectional designs and inadequate confounder control. We investigated the relation between organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and pulmonary function in a prospective study accounting for important confounders. METHODS In a cohort of 364 smallholder farmers in Uganda (69% women), participants underwent pre-bronchodilator spirometry at baseline (September/October 2018) and at two follow-up visits (November/December 2018 and January/February 2019). Exposure to carbamate and organophosphate insecticides was assessed using haemoglobin-adjusted erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE/Hb). Less than 3% of participants were lost to follow-up. We calculated Z-scores for FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC using the Global Lung Function Initiative equations. Data were analysed in linear mixed and fixed effect models accounting for family relationships and repeated measures of exposure and outcome. RESULTS Low AChE/Hb was significantly associated with low FEV1 Z-score in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Compared with individuals with AChE/Hb 25.90 U/g (50th percentile, reference), those with lower AChE/Hb 24.50 U/g (35th percentile) had mean FEV1 Z-score 0.045 (0.003 to 0.087) lower, and persons with higher AChE/Hb 27.30 U/g (65th percentile) had a mean FEV1 Z-score 0.043 (-0.002 to 0.087) higher compared with the reference. Similar, but numerically smaller and statistically non-significant effects were seen for Z-scores of FVC and FEV1/FVC. CONCLUSION Exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides may lead to lung function decline. Our results add to the growing evidence of health effects in relation to exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, underlining the importance of minimising exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rune Hassan Hansen
- Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erik Jørs
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Annelli Sandbæk
- General Practice, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel Sekabojja
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Ruth Mubeezi
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dubendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assesment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Torben Sigsgaard
- Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alex Burdorf
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
| | - Bo Martin Bibby
- Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
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23
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Hansen MRH, Jørs E, Sandbæk A, Sekabojja D, Ssempebwa JC, Mubeezi R, Staudacher P, Fuhrimann S, Burdorf A, Bibby BM, Schlünssen V. Exposure to cholinesterase inhibiting insecticides and blood glucose level in a population of Ugandan smallholder farmers. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:713-720. [PMID: 32632029 PMCID: PMC7509396 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The risk of diabetes mellitus may be elevated among persons exposed to some pesticides, including cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates). The objective of this study was to investigate how acetylcholinesterase activity was associated with mean blood glucose levels among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Methods We conducted a short-term follow-up study among 364 smallholder farmers in Uganda. Participants were examined three times from September 2018 to February 2019. At each visit, we measured glycosylated haemoglobin A (HbA1c) as a measure of long-term average blood glucose levels. Exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides was quantified using erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase normalised by haemoglobin (AChE/Hb). For a subgroup of participants, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was also available. We analysed HbA1c and FPG versus AChE/Hb in linear mixed and fixed effect models adjusting for age, sex, physical activity level, and consumption of fruits and vegetables, alcohol and tobacco. Results Contrary to our hypothesis, our mixed effect models showed significant correlation between low AChE/Hb and low HbA1c. Adjusted mean HbA1c was 0.74 (95% CI 0.17 to 1.31) mmol/mol lower for subjects with AChE/Hb=24.3 U/g (35th percentile) compared with subjects with AChE/Hb=25.8 U/g (50th percentile). Similar results were demonstrated for FPG. Fixed effect models showed less clear correlations for between-phase changes in AChE/Hb and HbA1c. Conclusions Our results do not clearly support a causal link between exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides and elevated blood glucose levels (expressed as HbA1c and FPG), but results should be interpreted with caution due to the risk of reverse causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rune Hassan Hansen
- Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark .,National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erik Jørs
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Annelli Sandbæk
- General Practice, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel Sekabojja
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Ruth Mubeezi
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Philipp Staudacher
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Burdorf
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bo Martin Bibby
- Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Environment, Work and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
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24
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Jones K, Basinas I, Kromhout H, van Tongeren M, Harding AH, Cherrie JW, Povey A, Sidek Ahmad ZN, Fuhrimann S, Ohlander J, Vermeulen R, Galea KS. Improving Exposure Assessment Methodologies for Epidemiological Studies on Pesticides: Study Protocol. JMIR Res Protoc 2020; 9:e16448. [PMID: 32130188 PMCID: PMC7070347 DOI: 10.2196/16448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to certain pesticides has been associated with several chronic diseases. However, to determine the role of pesticides in the causation of such diseases, an assessment of historical exposures is required. Exposure measurement data are rarely available; therefore, assessment of historical exposures is frequently based on surrogate self-reported information, which has inherent limitations. Understanding the performance of the applied surrogate measures in the exposure assessment of pesticides is therefore important to allow proper evaluation of the risks. Objective The Improving Exposure Assessment Methodologies for Epidemiological Studies on Pesticides (IMPRESS) project aims to assess the reliability and external validity of the surrogate measures used to assign exposure within individuals or groups of individuals, which are frequently based on self-reported data on exposure determinants. IMPRESS will also evaluate the size of recall bias on the misclassification of exposure to pesticides; this in turn will affect epidemiological estimates of the effect of pesticides on human health. Methods The IMPRESS project will recruit existing cohort participants from previous and ongoing research studies primarily of epidemiological origin from Malaysia, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. Consenting participants of each cohort will be reinterviewed using an amended version of the original questionnaire addressing pesticide use characteristics administered to that cohort. The format and relevant questions will be retained but some extraneous questions from the original (eg, relating to health) will be excluded for ethical and practical reasons. The reliability of pesticide exposure recall over different time periods (<2 years, 6-12 years, and >15 years) will then be evaluated. Where the original cohort study is still ongoing, participants will also be asked if they wish to take part in a new exposure biomonitoring survey, which involves them providing urine samples for pesticide metabolite analysis and completing questionnaire information regarding their work activities at the time of sampling. The participant’s level of exposure to pesticides will be determined by analyzing the collected urine samples for selected pesticide metabolites. The biomonitoring measurement results will be used to assess the performance of algorithm-based exposure assessment methods used in epidemiological studies to estimate individual exposures during application and re-entry work. Results The project was funded in September 2017. Enrollment and sample collection was completed for Malaysia in 2019 and is on-going for Uganda and the United Kingdom. Sample and data analysis will proceed in 2020 and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2021. Conclusions The study will evaluate the consistency of questionnaire data and accuracy of current algorithms in assessing pesticide exposures. It will indicate where amendments can be made to better capture exposure data for future epidemiology studies and thus improve the reliability of exposure-disease associations. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/16448
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - John W Cherrie
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Zulkhairul Naim Sidek Ahmad
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Johan Ohlander
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Karen S Galea
- Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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25
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Staudacher P, Fuhrimann S, Farnham A, Mora AM, Atuhaire A, Niwagaba C, Stamm C, Eggen RIL, Winkler MS. Comparative Analysis of Pesticide Use Determinants Among Smallholder Farmers From Costa Rica and Uganda. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2020; 14:1178630220972417. [PMID: 33402828 PMCID: PMC7739084 DOI: 10.1177/1178630220972417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are used globally in agriculture and pose a threat to the health of farmers, communities, and the environment. Smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries have generally a low socio-economic status and educational level. Consequently, they are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts of pesticides on their health, yields, or land. In a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices study, we compared the pest management practices between a market-oriented farming system in Zarcero County, Costa Rica, and a subsistence-based farming system in Wakiso District, Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among smallholder farmers from Costa Rica (n = 300) in 2016 and from Uganda (n = 302) in 2017. We enrolled conventional and organic farmers, but also farmers with mixed practices and non-applicators of any pest management strategy. We found that the majority of pesticides used in both case studies are classified as highly hazardous by the World Health Organization. While more than 90% of smallholder farmers from both countries were aware of the negative health effects of pesticide exposure, <11% in Costa Rica and <2% in Uganda reported using personal protective equipment every time they handled or applied pesticides. Hygiene and other safe use practices were not adopted by all farmers (<61%), especially among farmers applying more hazardous pesticides. Conventional farmers from Costa Rica (14%) and Uganda (19%) reported disposing pesticide residuals into rivers. Using a logistic regression we found that organic farmers were more likely to having been trained on safe pesticide use practices. Using a robust regression, we observed that smallholder household income was primarily driven by education and not directly by the use of synthetic pesticides. Our results suggest that negative effects of pesticides can be managed over the whole life cycle, from purchase, via storage and application to residual and waste management by fostering professionalization of farmers. We advise future safe use and handling interventions to consider the pesticide use-related socioeconomic and demographic findings highlighted in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Staudacher
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, CHN, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Philipp Staudacher, Eawag, Environmental Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, Dübendorf, CH-8600, Switzerland.
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, CM Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Andrea Farnham
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ana M Mora
- Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances (IRET), Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Charles Niwagaba
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christian Stamm
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Rik IL Eggen
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, CHN, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mirko S Winkler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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