Exposure to agricultural pesticides and use of personal protection equipment by small-scale farmers in a municipality of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The use of agricultural pesticides in Brazil has significantly increased during recent decades, especially due to the competition between the internal Brazilian market and that for exports. Pesticides are among the most important risk factors for the health of the general population, especially workers, and the environment, resulting in a scenario of increased public spending on health and social damage due to pollution by such chemicals, with emphasis on organophosphates and carbamates. When these substances are managed incorrectly, such as when personal protection equipment (PPE) is not used, or when they are inadequately discarded without adhering to sanitary disposal guidelines, they can cause pollution and short- and long-term damage to health. This paper therefore surveys the knowledge base of small-scale farmers with respect to exposure to agrochemicals and the importance of use of PPEs. This qualitative and transversal study relied upon the voluntary participation of 64 residents of a rural area. The study was initiated after having received approval of the Committee for Ethics in Research, and after the participants signed an informed consent form. A questionnaire was given to the participants which used multiple choice and open-ended questions. All the participants stated that they use fertilizers and other agrochemicals, and that they do not use or only sporadically use PPEs. All the participants related that they have not had access to specialized technical assistance to help with proper use of agrochemical products, and that they store these products inadequately in their house or in other inappropriate places. These small-scale farmers do not use PPEs and underestimate the damage to their health and that of their family that can be caused by improper use of agrochemicals, and also demonstrate a lack of technical knowledge with respect to adequate management of these products.