Pesticide exposure of family in chili farm community, Hua-Rua sub-district, Muang district, Ubonratchathani province, Thailand

Abstract

People living in agricultural communities can be exposed to agricultural pesticides from multiple pathways and sources. These include indirect exposure from household insecticides. The study population focused on people who living in an agricultural community in Hua-Rua sub-district, Muang district, Ubonratchathani province, Thailand recruited 54 occupational households and 54 non-occupational households to participate. Questionnaires on household pesticide use were completed by face to face interviews and observations. The results showed that 73.1% of the participants reported using household pesticides. Most of them (70.9%) used pesticides bottled sprays follow by mosquito coils (26.6%) for pest control in their house. About 82.3% of the household pesticide users reported using pesticide 1-2 times per week and 45.4% of the respondents generally cleaned their house 1-2 times per week. All household pesticide products in this area contain pyrethroids. Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) residues were found in air samples (22.2%) and surface wipes (21.3%). All households were cross compared of OPs concentration between house located levels. It was found that all households of level 1 had significantly higher levels of OPs concentration than level 2 and level 3 (<50m., 50-100m. and 101-150 m., respectively), (Kruskal Wallis test, p<0.001). Pyrethroid insecticides residue was mostly found in surface wipe, hands and foot, respectively. The OPs urinary metabolite of member in occupational family was significantly different from the urinary metabolite of non-occupational family (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05) except elderly. The main associated of pesticide exposure pathways and urinary metabolites were found from the dermal and inhalation pathways (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.424 and 0.379 respectively; p-value <0.01).This study suggests that the education and training program regarding household insecticides use and guidelines regarding agricultural pesticides prevention should be developed for people in agricultural community