Universidad Politecnica Salesiana, Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Ambiente (INBIAM), Cuenca, Ecuador.
Universidad de Alicante, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Alicante, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 29;14(1):26034. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76733-y.
Pesticide use is crucial in global agriculture to control pests and increase crop yields. In Ecuador, the use of pesticides, including fungicides and insecticides, is common in crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. However, the indiscriminate use of these products has proven to have negative consequences for human health and the environment. This study investigates these risks in Ecuadorian agriculture, specifically in the Paute canton, where inadequate data exacerbates these issues. Employing a descriptive research design, data were collected through validated surveys administered to 30 farmers (9 women and 21 men) residing in various rural communities. The study also included observational methods to complement survey data. Findings reveal that farmer, predominantly with primary education, face health risks from inappropriate pesticide use. Symptoms reported include eye irritation, headaches, and nasal irritation, which vary based on education level and safety practices. The research highlights the urgent need for improved pesticide management through targeted training and sustainable practices. This study's insights into the extent of health issues and variability in safety measures provide a basis for developing effective interventions to mitigate the health and environmental impacts of pesticide use in Paute and similar regions.
农药的使用在全球农业中至关重要，可以控制害虫并提高作物产量。在厄瓜多尔，包括杀菌剂和杀虫剂在内的农药在土豆和西红柿等作物中被广泛使用。然而，这些产品的滥用已被证明对人类健康和环境造成负面影响。本研究调查了厄瓜多尔农业中的这些风险，特别是在帕塔省，那里缺乏数据加剧了这些问题。本研究采用描述性研究设计，通过向 30 名居住在各个农村社区的农民（9 名女性和 21 名男性）发放经过验证的调查问卷收集数据。该研究还采用了观察方法来补充调查数据。研究结果表明，农民主要接受小学教育，他们因不当使用农药而面临健康风险。报告的症状包括眼睛刺激、头痛和鼻腔刺激，这些症状因受教育程度和安全措施而异。该研究强调了通过有针对性的培训和可持续实践来改善农药管理的迫切需要。本研究深入了解了健康问题的程度和安全措施的差异，为制定有效措施提供了依据，以减轻帕塔和类似地区使用农药对健康和环境的影响。
