The link between pesticide exposure and suicide in agricultural workers: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to find the association between pesticide exposure and the incidence of suicide in agricultural workers, focusing on analyzing the profile of agricultural workers, the countries with the highest number of publications and, especially, the link between occupational exposure to pesticides, the degradation of mental health and suicide among agricultural workers. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol using Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, where 33 articles were screened to compose the final portfolio. RESULTS: There is a strong link between pesticide exposure and suicide in agricultural workers. Smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure time, and marital status influence the decision to die by suicide. Brazil and the US lead the ranking in publications, demonstrating that it is not a problem only for developing countries. Organophosphates are the main pesticides used, and they degrade an enzyme crucial for the nervous system, which can result in mental disorders and consequent suicide in agricultural workers. CONCLUSION: There is a need for stricter norms for the commercialization and use of pesticides. There is also a need for providing training to agricultural workers on the application and storage of pesticides, and to communicate about the compounds and the consequences of pesticides to mental health.

COVID-19 Attitudes and Vaccine Hesitancy among an Agricultural Community in Southwest Guatemala: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Despite offering free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccines starting July 2021, Guatemala has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Latin America. From 28 September 2021 to 11 April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of community members, adapting a CDC questionnaire to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy. Of 233 participants ≥ 12 years, 127 (55%) received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 and 4 (2%) reported prior COVID-19 illness. Persons ≥ 12 years old who were unvaccinated (n = 106) were more likely to be female (73% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and homemakers (69% vs. 24%, p < 0.01) compared with vaccinated participants (n = 127). Among those ≥18 years, the main reported motivation for vaccination among vaccinated participants was to protect the health of family/friends (101/117, 86%); on the other hand, 40 (55%) unvaccinated persons reported little/no confidence in public health institutions recommending COVID-19 vaccination. Community- and/or home-based vaccination programs, including vaccination of families through the workplace, may better reach female homemakers and reduce inequities and hesitancy.

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre el uso de plaguicidas por agricultores en una zona rural de Copán Ruinas, Honduras, año 2019 / Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on the use of pesticides by farmers in a rural area of Copán Ruinas, Honduras, 2019

Resumen Introducción: Las prácticas de uso por parte de pequeños agricultores en zonas rurales empobrecidas se relacionan con riesgo alto ocupacional y paraocupacional de exposición a plaguicidas. Objetivo: Describir las características de los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de uso de plaguicidas por agricultores en una zona rural de Copán Ruinas, Honduras. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, llevado a cabo en Copán Ruinas, Honduras, C.A, 2019, incluyó 81 agricultores (n=81) mayores de 18 años procedentes de tres comunidades rurales contiguas. Resultados: Los agricultores entrevistados refieren capacitación 3.7% (3/81), almacenan plaguicida en el hogar 39.5% (32/81), manipulan veneno sin guantes 30.9% (26/81), eliminan residuos en el ambiente 19.8% (16/81), lavan equipo en hogar 27.2% (22/81). Un agricultor (1.2%, 1/81) refirió conocer el significado de los colores en las etiquetas. Discusión: el bajo nivel de escolaridad podría ser la causa de bajo porcentaje de conocimiento con respecto al riesgo de exposición a plaguicidas. Coincide con otros autores, la actitud positiva del agricultor hacia la prevención de riesgo. Algunas prácticas referidas por los agricultores inducen riesgo de exposición paraocupacional, coincidiendo con lo reportado en la literatura. Conclusión: El bajo porcentaje de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en el uso de plaguicidas por los agricultores de la zona rural evaluada coincide con lo reportado por la literatura regional y latinoamericana, posiblemente asociada a un contexto de bajo nivel socioeconómico que conlleva baja capacidad de inversión en prevención y que podría ser una causa importante que contribuye al riesgo de exposición ocupacional y paraocupacional por uso de plaguicidas.

Abstract Introduction: Use practices by small farmers in impoverished rural areas are related to high occupational and para-occupational risk of exposure to pesticides. Objective: To describe the characteristics of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pesticide use by farmers in a rural area of Copán Ruinas, Honduras. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out in Copán Ruinas, Honduras, C.A. 2019, it included 81 farmers (n = 81) older than 18 years from three contiguous rural communities. Results: Only 3.7% of the farmers referred training, 39.5% (32/81) store pesticide at home, 30.9% handle poison without gloves, 19.8% (16/81) eliminate waste in the environment, 27.2%, 22/81) wash equipment at home. One farmer (1.2%, 1/81) reported knowing the meaning of the colors on the labels. Discussion: The very low level of schooling could be the cause of low percentage of knowledge regarding the risk of exposure to pesticides. The positive attitude of the farmer towards risk prevention coincides with other authors. Some practices referred by farmers induce risk of para-occupational exposure, coinciding with what has been reported in the literature. Conclusion: The low percentage of knowledge, attitude and practices in the use of pesticides by farmers in rural areas evaluated coincide with that reported by regional and Latin American literature, possibly associated with a context of low socioeconomic level that entails low investment capacity in prevention and that could be an important cause that contributes to the risk of occupational and para-occupational exposure due to the use of pesticides.

Exposure to Workplace Sexual Harassment among Women and Men Farmworkers in the U.S. and Mexico.

HIGHLIGHTS: Women and men farmworkers reported workplace sexual harassment (WSH). WSH occurred as frequently as daily. Both coworkers and leadership were perpetrators of WSH. ABSTRACT: This study explores experiences relevant to workplace sexual harassment (WSH) in agriculture among men and women farmworkers in California (U.S.) and Michoacán (Mexico). Anecdotal evidence documents women farmworkers having to endure behavioral, verbal, and physical WSH including sexual ogling, degrading language, groping, and requests for sex in exchange for work. We include survey comparisons between men and women in California and Michoacan on WSH among farmworkers. We conducted 197 farmworker surveys (38 men and 59 women in California; 40 men and 60 women in Michoacán). Community advisory boards contributed expertise and input for study strategies, materials, and dissemination. Survey participant ages ranged from 23 to 54 years old. Half worked in Mexico, 68% were married, 80% had children, and 47% had less than 7 years of education. Most farmworkers spoke Spanish and Purhépecha, an indigenous language spoken by the Purhépecha people in Michoacán. We used two strategies to measure WSH exposure in the previous year: (1) direct inquiry-based survey items (asking "Have you ever been the victim of or bystander to workplace sexual harassment?") documenting WSH among women (49%) and men (21%) in California and among women (7%) and men (13%) in Michoacán, and (2) behavior-based WSH items (using explicit examples of WSH behaviors perpetrated against the participant or witnessed by the participant as a bystander) documenting WSH among women (as high as 53%) and men (as high as 45%) in California and among women (as high as 65%) and men (as high as 68%) in Michoacán. Women farmworkers in California reported WSH experiences exceeding those of men. Reported WSH experiences in Michoacán were similar for men and women. Farmworkers identified WSH perpetrators as coworkers more than leadership. The frequency of exposure ranged from daily, weekly, monthly, and up to multiple times a year. Of 46 direct inquiry-based WSH incidents, only one perpetrator was punished, and at least half of all victims said they were forced to change their jobs. The findings of this study inform the development of WSH prevention efforts, such as education tools, support for efforts to facilitate reporting, protections against retaliation for workers, and promoting accountability for perpetrators. This information supports the promotion of policy recommendations and preventive approaches for WSH.

What kills the agricultural worker? A systematic review on suicide.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this research is fourfold: (i) analyze which countries have the most publications on suicide among agricultural workers, (ii) understand the factors that lead to either suicide or intent, (iii) identify the methods of suicide or attempted suicide, and (iv) propose preventive measures so that rural agricultural workers are not exposed to risk factors to suicide. METHODS: A literature review was conducted for the period 1996-2019; the Scopus, Lilacs, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Science Direct databases were searched, resulting in 44 articles deemed relevant to this research. RESULTS: Agricultural workers were considered to be workers who perform agricultural activities, as either employees or employers. Australia, China, India, and Brazil had the most publications, and the causes of suicide were mostly easy access to or exposure to pesticides, and socioeconomic factors, such as masculinity, conditions of poverty, and social isolation. CONCLUSION: Compared with other workers, agricultural workers can be a group at risk, with a great number of factors leading to suicide. Based on the available literature, proposals for suicide prevention are suggested.

"It's Wrong because It Could Be My Sister, Wife, or Mother": Workplace Sexual Harassment among Men and Women Farmworkers in USA and Mexico.

These findings from focus groups explore attitudes, beliefs, perspectives, and experiences relevant to workplace sexual harassment (WSH) among men and women farmworkers in California, USA, and Michoacán, Mexico. Focus groups are stratified by country and gender, with two in California (10 men and 10 women) and two in Michoacán (8 men and 5 women). This community-based participatory research includes Community Advisory Boards (CABs) consisting of farmworkers, academicians, non-profit organizations, attorneys, industry personnel, and community leaders who took part in strategy and the development of materials. Themes are related to the experience of, responses to, and farmworkers' recommendations for prevention of WSH. Although men and women faced WSH, women's experiences were more severe and frequent. Participants condemned WSH as contrary to principles of caballerosidad, cortesía, respeto - cultural values promoting respect for others and protection for vulnerable persons. Participants endorsed the notion that women are responsible for WSH. Although farmworkers try to resolve WSH on their own with help from co-workers, family, and leadership, they face significant barriers that silence victims and allow WSH to persist. All farmworkers recommended that management set a good example and enforce consequences for offenders. Implications include directly appealing to cultural values (emphasizing respect), incorporating bystander education, and countering the myth that women are responsible for WSH in workplace training. WSH is a recognized occupational hazard that affects all directly or indirectly exposed workers. We emphasize that employers are ultimately responsible for their workers' safety, supported by a governmental regulatory role. Enforcement of existing policy is needed in California , whereas awareness and policy development is needed in Michoacán. These findings will support the researchers, agricultural community, educators, and organizations working to prevent WSH.

Data on pesticide exposure and mental health screening of family farmers in Brazil.

This dataset is part of a risk assessment project that evaluated the human health effects of pesticide exposure in São José de Ubá, State of Rio de Janeiro. This region is one of the greatest tomato producers in Brazil, and pest control is commonly based on the use of pesticides. We interviewed 78 smallholder family farmers about sociodemographic characteristics, pesticide use and exposure, assessed blood cholinesterase as biomarkers (n = 70), and screened all participants for probable common mental disorders through the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20).

An Online Survey of Occupational Hazards in Brazilian Aquaculture.

Information on occupational health and safety practices in Brazilian aquaculture is limited. This paper reports preliminary results from an online survey based on research questions to identify occupational hazards, risk assessment practices, and prevention measures adopted in Brazilian aquaculture. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, comprising 25 questions, on a voluntary and anonymous basis. Aquaculture stakeholders were invited to participate in the study through email and social media channels. The demographic data demonstrated that the majority of respondents were men (72%) and having a higher education (95%). Most respondents employed administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) rather than substitution and other risk elimination measures to reduce exposure. The most commonly adopted measures were PPE use (87%), adequate handling of chemicals (86%), and imparting knowledge of risks (90%). However, only 12% of participants reported the presence of safety protocols at their workplace, and 17% had some form of immunization of workers. In this study, it was possible to identify a lack of hazard signage in the workplace and lack of occupational health and safety training. The results further indicate that risk management in aquaculture continues to be a challenge in low-income countries. Aquaculture farmers should be encouraged and supported in adopting measures and appropriate technologies to eliminate risks in Brazilian aquaculture.

Heat-related symptoms in sugarcane harvesters.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to heat stress is a documented risk for Central American sugarcane harvesters. However, little is known about heat-related illness in this population. METHODS: This study examined the frequency of heat-related health effects among harvesters (n = 106) exposed to occupational heat stress compared to non-harvesters (n = 63). Chi-square test and gamma statistic were used to evaluate differences in self-reported symptoms and trends over heat exposure categories. RESULTS: Heat and dehydration symptoms (headache, tachycardia, muscle cramps, fever, nausea, difficulty breathing, dizziness, swelling of hands/feet, and dysuria) were experienced at least once per week significantly more frequently among harvesters. Percentages of workers reporting heat and dehydration symptoms increased in accordance with increasing heat exposure categories. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of harvesters are experiencing heat illness throughout the harvest demonstrating an urgent need for improved workplace practices, particularly in light of climate change and the epidemic of chronic kidney disease prevalent in this population.

Cromomicose: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Chromomycosis: case report and literature review

A cromomicose é uma micose profunda, crônica, com acometimento da pele e do subcutâneo. O fungo é encontrado na natureza nas plantas e no solo, sendo introduzido no organismo através de traumas ou ferimentos. A localização das lesões é, principalmente, nos membros inferiores, podendo também comprometer outras regiões. Os trabalhadores rurais são mais frequentemente acometidos por falta de proteção e exposição contínua. O objetivo deste relato foi apresentar um caso de cromomicose de evolução crônica, fazendo diagnóstico diferencial com outras doenças que causam a síndrome verrucosa (leishmaniose, esporotricose e tuberculose) e realizando breve revisão da literatura. Paciente do gênero masculino, 83 anos, branco, trabalhador rural, procurou Ambulatório de Dermatologia apresentando lesão vegetante, verrucosa, de base eritematosa, com distribuição linear, localizada no membro superior direito com evolução de 9 anos. As características da lesão sugeririam como hipóteses diagnósticas doenças que causam a síndrome verrucosa LECT (iniciais de leishmaniose, esporotricose, cromomicose e tuberculose). Para confirmação diagnóstica, foi realizada biópsia da lesão e exame histopatológico, que revelou presença de células arredondadas de cor castanho escuro em processo de reprodução binária, confirmando o diagnóstico de cromomicose. O paciente foi submetido ao tratamento com itraconazol e crioterapia combinados. A cromomicose possui diagnósticos diferencias em decorrência das características clínicas da lesão,sendo fundamentais, para sua confirmação diagnóstica, exames específicos.

Chromomycosis is a deep and chronic mycosis that affects the skin and the subcutaneous tissues. The fungus is found in nature, in plants and soil, being introduced into the body through trauma or injury. Lesions occur mainly on the lower limbs, but can also involve other regions. Rural workers are more frequently affected due to lack of protection and continuous exposure. The objective of this report was to present a case of chronic chromomycosis evolution, making differential diagnosis with other diseases that cause warty syndrome (leishmaniasis, sporotrichosis and tuberculosis) and performing a brief literature review. Male patient, 83 years old, white, farm laborer, sought the Dermatology Department presenting vegetative, verrucous lesion, with erythematous base, linear distribution, located on the right upper limb, with a 9-year progression. Lesion characteristics would suggest as diagnostic hypotheses diseases that cause warty syndrome LECT (acronym in Portuguese from leishmaniasis, sporotrichosis, chromomycosis and tuberculosis). For diagnostic confirmation, a biopsy and an histopathological examination were performed and revealed the presence of round, dark brown cells in binary reproduction process, confirming the diagnosis of chromomycosis. The patient was treated with itraconazole and cryotherapy combination. Chromomycosis has differential diagnosis due to the clinical characteristics of the lesion; therefore specific tests are fundamental to confirm the diagnosis.

Heat exposure in sugarcane harvesters in Costa Rica.

BACKGROUND: Occupational heat stress is a major concern in sugarcane production and has been hypothesized as a causal factor of a chronic kidney disease epidemic in Central America. This study described working conditions of sugarcane harvesters in Costa Rica and quantified their exposure to heat. METHODS: Non-participatory observation and Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures (WBGT) according to Spanish NTP (Technical Prevention Notes) guidelines were utilized to quantify the risk of heat stress. OSHA recommendations were used to identify corresponding exposure limit values. RESULTS: Sugarcane harvesters carried out labor-intensive work with a metabolic load of 261 W/m² (6.8 kcal/min), corresponding to a limit value of 26° WBGT which was reached by 7:30 am on most days. After 9:15 am, OSHA recommendations would require that workers only work 25% of each hour to avoid health risks from heat. CONCLUSIONS: Sugarcane harvesters are at risk for heat stress for the majority of the work shift. Immediate action is warranted to reduce such exposures.

Dor e sofrimento oculto: a desproteção social dos trabalhadores do fumo / Suffering and hidden pain: field workers of the tabacco lack of social protection

O presente artigo é uma pesquisa de cunho qualitativo sobre as condições de trabalho e as repercussões sobre a saúde do trabalhador. Nessa perspectiva, buscou-se dar visibilidade aos vários ângulos que perpetuam o ocultamento dos processos de adoecimento e acidentes da atividade fumageira, na região nordeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Participaram da pesquisa vinte e três trabalhadores que sofreram acidentes de trabalho graves e faziam parte do banco de dados do Relatório Individual de Notificação de Agravo (RINA) que faz parte do Sistema de Informação em Saúde e Trabalho (SIST-RS), da 6ª Coordenadoria Regional de Passo Fundo/RS. Os depoimentos revelam realidades, muitas vezes, ocultadas pelo silêncio da dor, pela distância dos recursos médicos especializados, pelos obstáculos institucionais que dificultam o encaminhamento e reconhecimento do auxílio doença e acidente junto ao Instituto Nacional de Seguridade Social (INSS), até os entraves de reconhecimento do nexo causal do trabalho com o acidente. São obstáculos visíveis e invisíveis que contribuem para a desproteção social do trabalhador rural no seu dia a dia de trabalho, no qual a violência que os atinge é sutil, é escamoteada no cansaço, na dor e no sofrimento oculto.

The present paper is a research of qualitative matrix on the conditions of work and the repercussions on the health of the worker. In this perspective, one searched to give visibility to the some angles that perpetuate the occult of the sicken processes and accidents of the smoke production activity, in the northeast region of the state of the Rio Grande do Sul. Twenty and three workers had participated of the research who had suffered serious work accidents and were part of the data base of the Relatório Individual de Notificação de Agravo (RINA) que faz parte do Sistema de Informação em Saúde e Trabalho (SIST-RS), of the 6ª Regional Coordenadoria de Passo Fundo/RS. The depositions disclose realities, many times, occulted for the silence of pain, for in the distance of the specialized medical resources, for the institucional obstacles that make it difficult the guiding and recognition of the aid illness and accident next to the Instituto Nacional de Seguridade Social (INSS), until the impediments of recognition of the causal nexus of the work with the accident. Obstacles visible and invisible that contributes day-by-day for the lack social protection of the agricultural worker in its of work, in which the violence that reaches them is subtle, it is conjured in the fatigue, pain and the occult suffering.

Microbiota fúngica da conjuntiva, da cana-de-açúcar e de anemófilos da região canavieira de Monte Belo - Minas Gerais / Fungic microbiota of normal conjunctiva, sugar-cane and anemophilous fungi of the region of Monte Belo - Minas Gerais

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a incidência de fungos na conjuntiva ocular de trabalhadores no corte de cana-de-açúcar bem como no ambiente canavieiro. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo, foram feitos "swabs" da conjuntiva ocular de 100 trabalhadores de ambos os sexos, sendo 86 do sexo masculino e 14 do feminino, e coleta do material das folhas e colmo do canavial, bem como do ar ambiente que foram em seguida semeados em meios específicos para fungos. Após incubação a 25°C por um período de até 15 dias, as placas foram analisadas sendo as Unidades Formadoras de Colônias (UFC) identificadas com técnicas micológicas convencionais. RESULTADO: Dos 100 trabalhadores envolvidos na pesquisa, 64 apresentaram um ou mais gêneros de fungos, sendo 54 (84,38 por cento) identificados em indivíduos do sexo masculino e 10 (15,62 por cento) identificados em indivíduos do sexo feminino. A divisão dos trabalhadores por faixa etária, demonstrou que a freqüência dos fungos observados não foi uniforme. As maiores incidências foram encontradas nas faixas etárias mais avançadas, sendo que o aumento de positividade encontrado foi considerado estatisticamente significativo (p£0,05). A freqüência mais baixa (50 por cento) ocorreu no intervalo de 11 a 20 anos, que apresentou o menor número de pessoas examinadas. A maior positividade foi verificada no intervalo de 31-40 e 51-60 anos. Em 60 trabalhadores (93,75 por cento) foi isolado somente um gênero; em 3 (4,69 por cento) dois gêneros e em apenas 1 trabalhador (1,56 por cento) foram isolados três gêneros de fungos. Os fungos mais freqüentemente isolados foram Fusarium sp (43,76 por cento) e Geotrichum sp (23,44 por cento), seguidos de Cladosporum sp (9,38 por cento), Penicillium sp (7,81 por cento), Mucor sp (9,38 por cento) e Oidium sp (7,81 por cento). Os gêneros mais encontrados nas folhas, colmo e ar foram Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium e Rhizopus. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de não terem sido analisados os dados que...

AIM: To evaluate the incidence of fungi in the ocular conjunctiva of sugar-cane cutting workers as well in a sugar-cane plantation environment. PLACE: Monte Belo - MG, Eye Clinic, Laboratory of Physiology and Biology of Microorganisms of Unifenas, Alfenas - MG. METHODS: Swabs were made from the ocular conjunctiva of one hundred workers of both sexes and material was collected from leaves, stalk, and the environmental air from the sugar-cane plantation. These were inoculated in specific mold media. After incubation at 25°C for a period of fifteen days, the plates were analyzed and colony forming units (ufc) were identified using conventional mycological techniques. RESULTS: Of one hundred workers involved in this research, 64 presented one or more genera of fungi, 54 (84.38 percent) being identified in males and 10 (15.62 percent) identified in females. The separation of the workers by age range showed that the prevalence of observed fungi by age was not uniform. The highest incidences were found in advanced age ranges, the increase of positivity by age being considered statistically significant (p<0.05). The lowest prevalence (50 percent) was found in the 11-20-year-old interval, which presents the lowest number of examined persons. The highest positivity was verified in the 61-79 year interval. In 60 workers (93.75 percent) only one genus was isolated; in 3 (4.69 percent) two genera, and in only one worker (1.56 percent) three genera were isolated. The most prevalent isolated fungi were Fusarium sp (43.76 percent) and Geotrichum sp (23.44 percent), followed by Cladosporium sp (9.38 percent), Penicillium sp (7.81 percent), Mucor sp (9.38 percent) and Oidium sp (7.81 percent). The most common genus founded in leaves, stalk and air were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium and Rhizopus. CONCLUSION: The environmental conditions, the socioeconomic status and the general and personal poor hygienic conditions, together with...