ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In recent years, many studies have evaluated the increasing incidence of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases among children living close to rural areas with pesticide application. Pesticide exposure in 266 children (126 girls and 140 boys) in Sanliurfa, a cotton-producing province in Turkey, was explored in this work. Four different villages spread over 40 km2 were included. METHODS: Measurements of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in 266 children were conducted in late June, before intensive pesticide applications in the cotton-producing fields. The measurements were repeated for 72 of 266 children after pesticide application in late August. PEF, particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM < sub > 2.5 < /sub > ), particulate matter with diameter less than 10 µm (PM < sub > 10 < /sub > ), temperature, humidity, and wind speed were measured. RESULTS: After pesticide application, mean PM < sub > 2.5 < /sub > and PM < sub > 10 < /sub > values were significantly increased compared to before pesticide application (p < 0.001 for both parameters). After pesticide exposure, nasal discharge, sneezing, burning and itching in the eyes, cough, sputum production, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness were significantly increased (p < 0.001). The mean PEF value was demonstrated to decrease significantly after pesticide application (p < 0.001). Moreover, significant negative correlations were noted between PEF and PM < sub > 10 < /sub > and between PEF and PM < sub > 2.5 < /sub > (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive pesticide application causes respiratory dysfunction and increased respiratory complaints in children living near the affected agricultural areas, and impacts quality of life adversely. The results of this work can be used to develop an early warning system and methods to prevent respiratory disorders in children residing in the study area.
Subject(s)
Asthma , Particulate Matter , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Particulate Matter/adverse effects , Quality of Life , Respiratory Function Tests , Respiratory SoundsABSTRACT
OJECTIVE: To investigate respiratory health problems related to pesticide exposure in the inhabitants of agricultural areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 252 participants prior to pesticide application and 66 participants from the first group after pesticide application across four cotton farms. Symptom questionnaires were filled out by participants and respiratory function tests were measured before and after pesticide exposure. In addition, PM10, PM2.5, air temperature, and humidity were measured in all four farming villages before and after pesticide administration. RESULTS: PM10 and PM2.5 levels were significantly increased after pesticide application. After pesticide application, all participants' nose, throat, eye, and respiratory complaints increased significantly. Expected forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) percentage values decreased significantly. The rates of FVC and FEV1 values lower than 80% were 23.5% and 22%, espectively, before pesticide application, and this rate increased to 42.4% and 43.1%, respectively, after pesticide application. There was a significant negative correlation between PM10 levels and FVC, FEV1, and PEF values. After PM2.5 pesticide application, the risk of experiencing burning in the mouth, nose, and throat increased by 2.3-fold (OR: 2.316), 2.6-fold for burning symptoms in the eyes (OR: 2.593), 2.1-fold for wheezing (OR: 2.153), and 2.2-fold for chest tightness (OR: 2.211). With increased PM10 levels, the risk of chest tightness increased 1.1-fold (OR: 1.123). CONCLUSIONS: After pesticide administration, the respiratory health of the participants deteriorated. Performing pesticide applications in agriculture with harmless methods is the most important measure to be taken to protect public health.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/physiopathology , Lung/physiopathology , Pesticides/adverse effects , Respiratory Tract Diseases/physiopathology , Adult , Agricultural Workers' Diseases/diagnosis , Agricultural Workers' Diseases/etiology , Agriculture , Female , Gossypium/growth & development , Humans , Lung/drug effects , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Particulate Matter/adverse effects , Respiratory Function Tests , Respiratory Tract Diseases/diagnosis , Respiratory Tract Diseases/etiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
The effects of various parameters on bromate reduction were tested using lab-scale batch reactors with sulfur based autotrophic and methanol based heterotrophic denitrification processes. The initial bromate (BrO3-) concentration of 100 and 500 µg/L was completely reduced and bromide (Br-) was produced stoichiometrically from bromate in all batch reactors. In all experiments, nitrate was completely reduced to below detection limit. Kinetic studies showed that the sulfur-based autotrophic nitrate reduction rate increased with increasing initial nitrate concentration. At stoichiometrically sufficient methanol concentration as an external carbon source, nitrate and bromate were reduced to below US EPA drinking water limits in heterotrophic denitrification conditions. The methanol was completely depleted at the end of the heterotrophic operation conditions.
