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Cambodian
Situational Analysis on Farmers Perception of the Health
Effects of Pesticides on Their Health (n=210)
1.
There was evidence that significant pesticide poisoning
was occurring.
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67%
report 3-5 signs or symptoms potentially associated to
pesticide use per spray operation; another 22% reported
6-10. |
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35%
reported an episode of vomiting shortly after applying
pesticides that indicates moderate poisoning. |
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From
1-5% reported a serious episode of poisoning (seizure
and loss of consciousness respectively) |
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Close
to 50% have sought medical care for poisoning. |
2.
Cambodian farmers were using highly hazardous
products, which are well-documented risk factors for
pesticide poisoning.
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43%
were using extremely hazardous products (Ia), |
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52%
were using an extreme or highly hazardous product (Ia
or Ib) |
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84%
were using a moderate to extremely hazardous product (Ia,
Ib or II) |
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Many
of these products have been banned and are not longer
available in neighboring countries. |
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Most
were imports, as reflected by their labeling in
Vietnamese and Thai. This was an indication that
Cambodia is serving as a dumping ground for old stocks
that these neighbors can no longer sell in their own
countries. |
3.
The Cambodian farmer had no idea what he/ she was
using, its appropriate dose, indication, handling
procedure, or human health hazards.
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Labels
were illegible for the Khmer farmer. |
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99%
of the respondents have not received technical
information from an informed source. |
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63%
did not feel pesticide handling and storage could be a
health hazard. |
4.
Farmers were exposed to multiple doses on multiple
occasions through a season; another documented risk factor
for pesticide poisoning.
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Crops
were sprayed up to 20 times per season |
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Up
to 5 different products were mixed together and applied
to a single crop per spray session |
5.
Prolonged
dermal exposure was occurring. Hands and feet were likely
heavily contaminated as few use boots and no one reported
using gloves. 92%
wore unwashed, contaminated clothing to spray, which
amplifies skin exposure. Dermal exposure is the most
important route of entry and an important risk factor for
pesticide poisoning.
6.
Pesticide use was on the incline with 64% reporting more
reliance on pesticides.
7.
Children were directly or indirectly being exposed. Close
to 50% of the respondent farmers reported that they allowed
their children to apply pesticides.
Vietnam
Farmer-to-Farmer Baseline Study (n=480) to Measure the
Impact of Community IPM
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At
least 17.5% of farmers had moderate pesticide poisoning
on a single spray event observation as revealed by the
easily observed sign of ‘staggering gait’. Another
2% vomited on site and possibly 2 passed out and 3 had
a seizure. |
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41%
of the entire 480 farmers were using a highly toxic
product (Ib) and in one community 88%. |
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100
farmers were using methamidophos (Monitor and
Filitox), which has been formally banned by the
government. |
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Most
farmers were heavily contaminated by their pesticide
solution through wet clothing, hands and feet; some of
which is attributed to leaking tanks. |
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Protective
equipment was rarely used as elsewhere in Southeast
Asia due to the costs and impracticality of such
materials in this hot climate. |
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Family
members and livestock were also being exposed to
pesticides through hazardous pesticide storage and
disposal practices in farmer households. |
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