Adedire Chris O, Akinduro Oluwayomi O, Adeyemi Joseph A
Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Toxicol Ind Health. 2023 May;39(5):258-266. doi: 10.1177/07482337231169091. Epub 2023 Apr 6.
Pesticides are routinely applied by cocoa farmers to enhance cocoa production, which is threatened by pest infestations and diseases. However, the undesired health implications of pesticide applications on the farmers are yet to be fully elucidated especially among cocoa farmers in Idanre despite being the hub of cocoa production in Southwestern Nigeria. This study assessed the extent of pesticide use by cocoa farmers in the study area and determined the effects of exposure on their health using haematological and biochemical parameters as indices. A cross-sectional survey comprising 150 cocoa farmers and 50 controls (artisans) was carried out using structured questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from participants for the determination of copper and sulphate levels, haematological (haematocrit, red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts and platelet counts) and biochemical (creatinine, cholesterol, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin) parameters. The blood levels of copper and sulphate were significantly higher in the cocoa farmers than in the controls. However, there was no significant difference between the subjects and controls for most of the haematological and biochemical parameters except for the platelet counts and total bilirubin levels. The data from the study did not suggest any serious health effects due to pesticide exposure on the cocoa farmers despite the high blood levels of copper and sulphate, probably due to exposure to copper-based fungicides. However, the high serum bilirubin level among the subjects was an indication of possible liver damage. As such, cocoa farmers should be guided against indiscriminate use of pesticides on their farms.
可可种植户经常使用农药来提高可可产量，因为可可生产受到害虫侵扰和疾病的威胁。然而，农药使用对种植户产生的不良健康影响尚未得到充分阐明，特别是在伊丹雷的可可种植户中，尽管该地是尼日利亚西南部的可可生产中心。本研究评估了研究区域内可可种植户使用农药的程度，并以血液学和生化参数为指标，确定了农药接触对他们健康的影响。使用结构化问卷对150名可可种植户和50名对照者（工匠）进行了横断面调查。采集参与者的血样以测定铜和硫酸盐水平、血液学参数（血细胞比容、红细胞计数、白细胞计数和血小板计数）以及生化参数（肌酐、胆固醇、直接胆红素和总胆红素）。可可种植户血液中的铜和硫酸盐水平显著高于对照者。然而，除血小板计数和总胆红素水平外，大多数血液学和生化参数在研究对象与对照者之间没有显著差异。尽管可可种植户血液中的铜和硫酸盐水平较高，但研究数据并未表明农药接触对他们有任何严重的健康影响，这可能是由于接触了铜基杀菌剂。然而，研究对象中血清胆红素水平较高表明可能存在肝脏损伤。因此，应指导可可种植户避免在其农场中滥用农药。
