EVALUATION OF FAMILY FARMERS HEALTH WITH LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES IN A BRAZILIAN NORTH EAST REGION: A CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

The present study analyzed the clinical status of 1,000 farmers in the Serra da Ibiapaba, in the northwest of the state of Ceará, a region rich in plantations of different fruits and vegetables, and thus obtain data on the epidemiological profile of farmers in the region, the most used pesticides, use of personal protective equipment, most prevalent comorbidities. Men and women with long-term exposure and direct contact to pesticides were evaluated through clinical evaluation. This assessed the epidemiological condition, blood pressure, weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation, in addition to the application of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (Alcohol Use). Among the main results, it is worth noting that 17% of the interviewees reported using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the work of contact with pesticides. Among the most used pesticides and related to the degree of toxicity, 25% highly toxic and 41% moderately toxic. As for the use of alcohol and weight, it was found that 33% of farmers make improper use of it. As a result, no trend of morbidity related to long-term exposure and direct contact with pesticides was identified through the analyzes carried out, however, the mistaken use of PPE by the majority of respondents was attested.