Epidemiological profile of farmworkers from the state of Rio de Janeiro / Perfil epidemiológico de trabajadores rurales del estado de Río de Janeiro / Perfil epidemiológico de trabalhadores rurais do estado do Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the epidemiological profile of farmworkers exposed to pesticides in the city of Casimiro de Abreu, Rio de Janeiro State. Method: cross-sectional study, conducted through a questionnaire. The collected data were typed in spreadsheet and processed in the R software. Results: the predominance of female participants, between 40 and 60 years old, married, with some elementary education was observed. Furthermore, the family labor and the production for their own consumption and trade prevail. Herbicide is the most widely used pesticide. Most informants present poisoning symptoms, as they do not use Personal Protective Equipment nor sunscreen. Breast cancer is the most frequent in families; among the participants, 31% had hypertension and 6.4% diabetes. Conclusion: a population vulnerable to environmental and occupational risks, specially the middle-aged group and women, sets up a profile marked by regional differences.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir el perfil epidemiológico de los trabajadores rurales expuestos a agrotóxicos en el municipio de Casimiro de Abreu, estado de Río de Janeiro. Método: estudio transversal, realizado por medio de un cuestionario. Los datos recolectados fueron digitados en planilla electrónica y procesados en el Programa R. Resultados: se constató predominio de participantes del sexo femenino, entre cuarenta y sesenta años, casadas, con enseñanza fundamental incompleta. Además, prevalecen la mano de obra familiar y la producción para el propio consumo y comercio. Herbicida es el agrotóxico más utilizado. La mayoría de los informantes presenta un síntoma de intoxicación, no utiliza equipo de protección individual ni protector solar. El cáncer de mama es el más frecuente en las familias; de los participantes se identificaron un 31% hipertensos y un 6,4% diabéticos. Conclusión: una población vulnerable a los riesgos ambientales y ocupacionales, con destaque para el grupo de mediana edad y del sexo femenino, configura un perfil marcado por diferencias regionales.

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever o perfil epidemiológico dos trabalhadores rurais expostos a agrotóxicos no município de Casimiro de Abreu, estado do Rio de Janeiro. Método: estudo transversal, realizado por meio de questionário. Os dados coletados foram digitados em planilha eletrônica e processados no Programa R. Resultados: constatou-se predomínio de participantes do sexo feminino, entre quarenta e sessenta anos, casadas, com ensino fundamental incompleto. Ademais, prevalecem a mão de obra familiar e a produção para o próprio consumo e comércio. Herbicida é o agrotóxico mais utilizado. A maioria dos informantes apresenta sintoma de intoxicação, não utiliza Equipamento de Proteção Individual nem protetor solar. O câncer de mama é o mais frequente nas famílias; dentre os participantes identificaram-se 31% hipertensos e 6,4% diabéticos. Conclusão: uma população vulnerável aos riscos ambientais e ocupacionais, com destaque para o grupo de meia idade e do sexo feminino, configura um perfil marcado por diferenças regionais.

Occupational risk factors among Iranian farmworkers: a review of the available evidence / 한국역학회지

Farming is one of the most important components of most economies. No comprehensive picture exists of the health status of Iranian farmers and the work-related hazards that affect them. We aimed to determine the gaps in the current knowledge regarding the occupational health of Iranian farmworkers. Electronic databases including Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, as well as national databases including the Scientific Information Database, MagIran, and Barakat Knowledge System, were searched for articles published through March 2017. All epidemiologic studies regarding the occupational health of farmworkers in Iran were reviewed, regardless of their design, language, time of publication, and location. Of the 86 retrieved articles, 39 studies were ultimately analyzed. Most studies were conducted in Fars, Kerman, and Mazandaran provinces. According to the results of this review, chemical, physical, and biological hazards, along with work-related injuries, may be the main factors threatening the health of farmworkers. The unsafe use of pesticides was related to male infertility, eye and digestive complications, pesticide poisoning, pesticide absorption, hematological changes, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Chemical hazards (e.g., the unsafe use of pesticides), physical hazards, injuries, and biological hazards (e.g., work-related infectious diseases) threaten the health of Iranian farmworkers. Moreover, farmworkers lack adequate knowledge about the occupational hazards they face and the relevant risk factors.

Occupational risk factors among Iranian farmworkers: a review of the available evidence / 한국역학회지

Farming is one of the most important components of most economies. No comprehensive picture exists of the health status of Iranian farmers and the work-related hazards that affect them. We aimed to determine the gaps in the current knowledge regarding the occupational health of Iranian farmworkers. Electronic databases including Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, as well as national databases including the Scientific Information Database, MagIran, and Barakat Knowledge System, were searched for articles published through March 2017. All epidemiologic studies regarding the occupational health of farmworkers in Iran were reviewed, regardless of their design, language, time of publication, and location. Of the 86 retrieved articles, 39 studies were ultimately analyzed. Most studies were conducted in Fars, Kerman, and Mazandaran provinces. According to the results of this review, chemical, physical, and biological hazards, along with work-related injuries, may be the main factors threatening the health of farmworkers. The unsafe use of pesticides was related to male infertility, eye and digestive complications, pesticide poisoning, pesticide absorption, hematological changes, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Chemical hazards (e.g., the unsafe use of pesticides), physical hazards, injuries, and biological hazards (e.g., work-related infectious diseases) threaten the health of Iranian farmworkers. Moreover, farmworkers lack adequate knowledge about the occupational hazards they face and the relevant risk factors.

Alterações bioquímicas e toxicológicas de agricultores familiares da região do Alto Jacuí, Rio Grande do Sul / Biochemical and toxicological changes among family farmers from the Alto Jacui region, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Objetivos: Avaliar possíveis alterações de marcadores bioquímicos e toxicológicos oriundas da exposição aos agroquímicos em trabalhadores rurais da região do Conselho Regional de Desenvolvimento Alto Jacuí, no Rio Grande do Sul. Métodos: Foram incluídos agricultores que tinham contato com pesticidas há mais de cinco anos e um grupo de indivíduos saudáveis, não expostos a agrotóxicos, recrutados na comunidade. Os agricultores foram submetidos a provas de função hepática e renal e atividade da enzima butirilcolinesterase. Foram ainda determinados os níveis de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), proteínas carboniladas (PCs) e glutationa reduzida (GSH), sendo os resultados destes parâmetros de estresse oxidativo comparados entre o grupo de agricultores expostos aos agrotóxicos e o grupo controle. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 106 agricultores com exposição a pesticidas e 103 indivíduos saudáveis, sem contato com agrotóxicos. Os valores obtidos para os parâmetros hepáticos e renais avaliados encontravam-se normais, enquanto a atividade da butirilcolinesterase estava diminuída. Os níveis plasmáticos dos parâmetros de estresse oxidativo dos agricultores estavam aumentados em relação ao grupo controle: TBARS 9,51 vs. 6,719 nmol MDA/mL (p=0,0422); PCs 11,78 vs. 9,23 nmol carbonil/mg proteína (p=0,0337); GSH 0,7180 vs. 0,3649 µmol GSH/mL (p<0,0001). Verificou-se que 51,62% dos agricultores utilizavam equipamentos de proteção individual, 8,06 % faziam uso eventual e 40,32 % não faziam uso de nenhum tipo de proteção. Conclusões: Os trabalhadores rurais avaliados apresentaram alterações que indicam estresse oxidativo, evidenciando a importância do monitoramento das condições de saúde dos mesmos, bem como do incentivo à utilização de equipamentos de proteção individual.

Aims: To evaluate possible changes in biochemical and toxicological markers in rural workers exposed to pesticides in the Alto Jacui region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: The study included 106 farmworkers exposed to pesticides for over five years and 103 healthy individuals, not exposed to pesticides, selected from the community. The farmworkers were submitted to liver and kidney function tests and to butyrylcholinesterase measurements. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls (PCs), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also determined, and the results of these oxidative stress parameters were compared with the group of pesticide-exposed farmworkers and the control group. Results: The evaluated hepatic and renal parameters were within the reference values whereas butyrylcholinesterase activity was found to be low. The plasma levels of oxidative stress parameters in exposed farmworkers were higher than in the control group: TBARS 9.51 vs. 6.179 nmol MDA/mL (p=0.0422); PCs 11.78 vs. 9.23 nmol carbonyl/mg protein (p.0.0337); GSH 0.7180 vs. 0.3649 µmol GSH/mL (p<0.0001). Personal protective equipment was worn by 51.62% of the farmworkers, but 8.06% wore it occasionally, and 40.32% did not wear any protective clothing or gear. Conclusions: Rural workers presented changes that indicate oxidative stress, thus highlighting the importance of monitoring their health conditions, as well as encouraging the use of personal protective equipment.

Determinación de residuos de plaguicidas en trabajadores agrícolas del municipio de Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia / Determination of pesticide levels in farmers working in the Barcelona municipality, Quindio, Colombia

Objetivos: En este trabajo se determinaron los niveles de residualidad de plaguicidas organoclorados y organofosforados en muestras de sangre periférica de trabajadores agrícolas –fumigadores– en el municipio de Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia. Método: Los trabajadores fueron escogidos al azar dentro de los principales cultivos abastecedores de frutas y verduras de la región. Para la extracción y determinación de los analitos en sangre, se usó la técnica de micro-extracción en fase sólida en modo head space y cromatografía de gases capilar dotado con un detector de micro captura de electrones. Resultados: Como resultado se encontraron residuos de 21 plaguicidas de tipo organoclorados y organofosforados; la mayoría de estos en alta concentración (>0.01 ppm) y prohibidos por la legislación nacional e internacional, sugiriendo que aún siguen siendo utilizados ilegalmente. De la residualidad encontrada, los plaguicidas más representativos fueron: beta-BHC y endosulfan, hallados en el 50 por ciento de las personas evaluadas. Asimismo, se descubrió que entre el 20 y 40 por ciento de las personas tenían residuos de endrin aldehído, forato, sulfotep, disulfoton y thionazin, en circunstancia que la mayoría de estos son de categoría toxicología I y II, comprobando el alto riesgo al que se exponen constantemente los individuos que aplican estos compuestos y la falta de atención e información por parte de las entidades responsables de autorización y fiscalización de su uso. Conclusiones: En este sentido, los resultados encontrados en este trabajo demuestran la importancia de continuar con los estudios de monitoreo y control de calidad de los principales alimentos, fuentes hídricas y trabajadores agrícolas, para así informar a la población acerca de los riesgos a los que está expuesta.

Aim: To determine the levels of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in peripheral blood samples of farm-workers in Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia. Methods: Farm-workers were randomly chosen to cover the major suppliers of fruits and vegetables crops in the region. Solid phase micro extraction in head space mode and capillary gas chromatography with a micro electron capture detector were used for extraction and determination of analytes from blood. Results: Twenty-one pesticides residues among organochlorine and organophosphorusclasses were found. Most of these pesticides were at high concentrations (>0.01 ppm) and represented concentrations forbidden by national and international legislation. Beta-BHC and endosulfan were found in 50 percent of persons tested. Residues of endrinaldehyde, phorate, sulfotep, disulfoton and thionazinwere found amongst 20-40 percent of the persons tested. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the high risks that farm-workers are exposed to, suggesting poor attention and provision of information by entities responsible for permits and supervision. Furthermore, we highlight the need for monitoring and quality control of food, water sources and farm-workers, and the necessity to inform workers and the community of the risks to which they are exposed.

Insecticide distribution model in human tissues viewing worker's health monitoring programs

This work aimed at evaluating the characteristics of thirty nine insecticides on tissue distribution and accumulation, using their physico-chemical characteristics and the tissues lipid contents to calculate the compounds distribution among the tissues. The insecticides evaluated were selected among those registered in Brazil for agriculture use. The level I fugacity model was used for the calculations of insecticide distribution among the tissues of muscles, viscera, skin, fat, blood, liver, kidneys and gut. The octanol-water partition coefficient, water solubility and tissue lipid contents showed an insecticide distribution in human tissues. Cluster analysis was performed aiming the identification and separation of insecticides groups based on their physico-chemical characteristics as compounds with similar distribution within tissues and at the same time tissues with similar distribution of various insecticides. Cluster analysis pointed out three insecticide groups: in the first, 70 - 86 percent of insecticide accumulation was found in lipid tissues; in the second, 44 - 58 percent; and in the third, 9 -19 percent. These results could contribute to health monitoring programs of farmworkers.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar as características de 39 inseticidas quanto a sua distribuição e acumulação em tecidos humanos como também avaliar o grau de similaridade entre os inseticidas quanto a sua distribuição nos tecidos. Para tanto, foram utilizadas as características físico-químicas dos compostos e o conteúdo de lipídeos teciduais para calcular a distribuição dos inseticidas entre os tecidos estudados. Os inseticidas selecionados para o presente trabalho foram alguns daqueles que se encontram registrados no Brasil para uso agrícola. No cálculo da distribuição dos inseticidas entre os tecidos foi utilizado o modelo de fugacidade nível I em músculos, vísceras, pele, gordura, sangue, fígado, rins e intestinos. As características físico- químicas dos inseticidas e os conteúdos de lipídio dos tecidos foram usados para calcular a distribuição dos inseticidas entre os tecidos. O coeficiente de partição octanol-água, a solubilidade em água e o conteúdo de lipídio dos tecidos determinaram a distribuição de um inseticida entre tecidos humanos. Foram realizadas análises de agrupamento, para identificar grupos de inseticidas com distribuição similar nos tecidos. 90 por cento dos 39 inseticidas apresentaram distribuição em gordura maior do que 50 por cento. A análise de agrupamento indicou três grupos de inseticidas: no primeiro o percentual acumulado na gordura variou de 70 - 86 por cento, no segundo de 44 - 58 por cento e no terceiro de 9 - 19 por cento. Os resultados obtidos podem contribuir para os programas de monitoramento da saúde do trabalhador rural.