Clarke E E, Levy L S, Spurgeon A, Calvert I A
Institute of Occupational Health, University of Birmingham, UK.
Occup Med (Lond). 1997 Jul;47(5):301-8. doi: 10.1093/occmed/47.5.301.
The use of pesticides in Ghanaian agriculture, though beneficial in reducing crop loss both before and after harvest, has been associated with threats to human health often due to the misapplication of the chemicals. This study was an initial attempt to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices of 123 farm workers on three irrigation project areas in the Accra Plains, Ghana, regarding the safe handling and use of pesticides, to assess the prevalence of symptoms associated with organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and carbamates and to determine the prevalence of pesticide-related symptoms, and blood cholinesterase. The study design was cross-sectional in type. Methods used were interviews and observation, and biological monitoring. The results revealed moderate levels of knowledge of the routes of absorption of pesticides and of potential symptoms following exposure. Knowledge of personal protective measures was poor to moderate. High risk practices included frequent handling of the chemicals, home storage of pesticides and short re-entry intervals. Despite knowledge of some health risks associated with pesticides, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was minimal due primarily to financial constraints. The prevalence of symptoms was higher and cholinesterase levels lower than in a control group of teachers. It is suggested that there is a need for more epidemiologic studies to investigate the problems associated with pesticide induced ill health as well as research into appropriate and affordable PPE. PPE needs to be subsidized. Training of agriculture and health workers in safety precautions, recognition, and management of pesticide-related ill health is a matter of urgency.
在加纳农业中，农药的使用虽然有助于减少收获前后的作物损失，但由于化学品的不当使用，往往对人类健康构成威胁。本研究初步尝试探索加纳阿克拉平原三个灌溉项目区的123名农场工人在农药安全处理和使用方面的知识、态度和做法，评估与有机磷农药（OPs）和氨基甲酸酯相关症状的患病率，确定农药相关症状和血液胆碱酯酶的患病率。研究设计为横断面类型。使用的方法包括访谈、观察和生物监测。结果显示，工人对农药吸收途径和接触后潜在症状的了解程度中等。对个人防护措施的了解较差至中等。高风险行为包括频繁接触化学品、在家中储存农药以及较短的重新进入间隔时间。尽管了解到一些与农药相关的健康风险，但主要由于经济限制，个人防护设备（PPE）的使用极少。与教师对照组相比，症状患病率更高，胆碱酯酶水平更低。建议需要进行更多的流行病学研究，以调查与农药引起的健康问题相关的问题，并研究合适且价格合理的个人防护设备。个人防护设备需要得到补贴。对农业和卫生工作者进行安全预防措施、农药相关疾病的识别和管理培训迫在眉睫。
