Perfil do uso populacional de inseticidas domésticos no combate a mosquitos / Profile of the population use of household insecticides against mosquitoes

Esse trabalho descreve a utilização doméstica de inseticidas pela população de Picos (Piauí, Brasil),identifica quais são os tipos de inseticidas mais utilizados e descreve a incidência de intoxicação e a consciência ambiental da população. Após visitas domiciliares (n=700), notou-se que a maioria dos entrevistados foi representada por mulheres (75%), com idade entre 31-55 anos (49%), ensino fundamental incompleto (38,1%) e renda familiar entre 1-2 salários mínimos (64%). A maioria das residências tem entre 1-3 moradores (48%), 85% dos entrevistados usam inseticidas escolhidos principalmente em propagandas de TV e radio e apenas 54% leem o rótulo antes de aplicar o produto. A forma de apresentação mais usada é o aerossol (70,7%). A maioria (79%) reconhece que inseticidas são maléficos à saúde, mas 74% não usam nenhum Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPI). Sintomas de toxicidade foram relatados por 27%dos entrevistados. Duas mulheres relataram irritação, tonturas e problemas respiratórios e necessidade de intervenção médica e internação hospitalar. Todos os entrevistados descartam as embalagens como lixo comum, uma vez que em Picos não há coleta seletiva. Em conclusão, a maioria das pessoas usam inseticidas, conhecem sobre os riscos individuais e coletivos aos quais estão expostos mas não usam EPI mesmo acreditando que sejam tóxicos. Notou-se que aquisição de conhecimentos não resulta,necessariamente, em mudanças de comportamento, uma vez que o conhecimento não se traduz em atitudes e práticas preventivas adequadas, ressaltando-se a necessidade de campanhas de conscientização quanto à toxicidade e aos riscos ambientais, capacitação de profissionais e política fiscalizatória contra a venda indiscriminada.

This study described the use of household insecticides in Picos (Piauí, Brazil), identify which are the mostused types of insecticides and describes the incidence of poisoning and environmental awareness of the population. After home visits (n = 700), it was seen that the majority of respondents was represented by women (75%), with 31-55 years-old (49%), incomplete primary education (38.1%) and income between 1-2 earnings (64%). Most homes have between 1-3 residents (48%), 85% of the persons use insecticides mainly chosen in TV and radio and only 54% of them read the label before employing the product. The most used form of presentation is the aerosol (70.7%). Majority (79%) recognizes that insecticides are harmful to health, but 74% do not use any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Symptoms of toxicity were reported by 27% of people interviewed. Two women reported irritation, dizziness and respiratory problems and need for medical intervention and hospitalization. All interviewed discard the package as regular trash, since Picos does not has selective collection. In conclusion, most people use insecticides, know about the individual and collective risks to which they are exposed but do not use PPE, though they believe insecticides are toxic. It was noted that acquisition of knowledge does not necessarily result in behavioral changes, since learning does not translate into appropriate preventive attitudes and practices, emphasizing the requirement for awareness campaigns about toxicity and environmental risks, preparation of professionals and surveillance policy against indiscriminate sale.

Topically applied diterpenoids from Egletes viscosa (Asteraceae) attenuate the dermal inflammation in mouse ear induced by tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate- and oxazolone.

The diterpene compounds, centipedic acid (CA) and 12-acetoxyhawtriwaic acid lactone (AHAL, tanabalin) isolated from the flower buds of Egletes viscosa LESS. (Asteraceae) were evaluated on acute and chronic models of mouse ear dermatitis. A single topical application of CA (0.125; 0.25 and 0.5 mg/ear) or AHAL (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/ear) immediately before 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 2.5 mug/ear) caused a dose-related significant inhibition of ear inflammatory edema and influx of polymorphonuclear cells, as evidenced by a decrease in ear thickness and reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in ear tissue homogenates. The maximal obtained inhibition for both ear edema and neutrophil influx were almost similar to that of topically applied dexamethasone (0.05 mg/ear). The extent of inhibitions for the respective treatments of CA (0.5 mg/ear), AHAL (0.5 mg/ear), or dexamethasone (0.05 mg/ear) were in the order of 63%, 61% and 81% for the ear edema, and 90%, 95% and 95% for the neutrophil influx. Also, at similar doses, both diterpenes and dexamethasone effectively inhibited the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction induced by repeated topical application of 1% oxazolone (OXA, 20 microl/ear), as evidenced by significant decreases in ear thickness and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) levels in ear tissue. Histopathological analysis revealed a marked decrease in epidermal hyperplasia and neutrophil infiltration in animals pretreated with CA or AHAL, in a manner similar to dexamethasone. These data provide evidence for the anti-dermatitis effect of Egletes viscosa diterpenes, by mechanisms that involve a reduced neutrophil influx and decreased production of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma.