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Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand

BACKGROUND. Farming is an important occupation in Thai hill tribe communities, which are often remote, and lack other economic opportunities along with basic educational, health care, and occupational health and safety services. Additionally, these communities have a unique culture and language. OBJ...

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Autores principales: Nambunmee, Kowit, Kawiya, Tharinya, Neitzel, Richard L, Seeprasert, Prapamon
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Black Smith Institute 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8383788/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34434600
http://dx.doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-11.31.210908
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author Nambunmee, Kowit
Kawiya, Tharinya
Neitzel, Richard L
Seeprasert, Prapamon
author_facet Nambunmee, Kowit
Kawiya, Tharinya
Neitzel, Richard L
Seeprasert, Prapamon
author_sort Nambunmee, Kowit
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND. Farming is an important occupation in Thai hill tribe communities, which are often remote, and lack other economic opportunities along with basic educational, health care, and occupational health and safety services. Additionally, these communities have a unique culture and language. OBJECTIVES. The present study was conducted in northern Thailand to evaluate pesticide exposures and associated health impacts among hill tribe farmers, and to compare them to Thai farmers. METHODS. Lahu hill tribe farmers in a mountain community were recruited by public health hospital staff, along with a reference group of lowland Thai farmers. Participants completed a survey on demographic factors and work practices, and blood and urine samples were collected by a trained nurse. Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was quantified to assess pesticide exposure, whereas liver and kidney functions were evaluated using clinical biomarkers. RESULTS. A large fraction (nearly 50%) of Lahu farmers were illiterate and could not speak Thai. Thai farmers worked fewer hours per week (39.4) than did Lahu farmers. Among Lahu farmers, AChE levels were significantly lower (worse) than those of Thai farmers. However, other health outcomes in these populations were similar. Formal education and language skills were not associated with pesticide exposures or health outcomes. Pesticide spraying was found to be a significant predictor of reduced AChE (OR=8.5, 95% CI 1.1–69.6). CONCLUSIONS. Pesticide exposures are a significant occupational health hazard among Thai hill tribe farmers. Training, potentially delivered by community health volunteers, is needed to communicate safe pesticide work practices to these farmers. PARTICIPANT CONSENT. Obtained ETHICS APPROVAL. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Mae Fah Luang University (REH-61080). COMPETING INTERESTS. The authors declare no competing financial interests.
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spelling pubmed-83837882021-08-24 Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand Nambunmee, Kowit Kawiya, Tharinya Neitzel, Richard L Seeprasert, Prapamon J Health Pollut Research BACKGROUND. Farming is an important occupation in Thai hill tribe communities, which are often remote, and lack other economic opportunities along with basic educational, health care, and occupational health and safety services. Additionally, these communities have a unique culture and language. OBJECTIVES. The present study was conducted in northern Thailand to evaluate pesticide exposures and associated health impacts among hill tribe farmers, and to compare them to Thai farmers. METHODS. Lahu hill tribe farmers in a mountain community were recruited by public health hospital staff, along with a reference group of lowland Thai farmers. Participants completed a survey on demographic factors and work practices, and blood and urine samples were collected by a trained nurse. Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was quantified to assess pesticide exposure, whereas liver and kidney functions were evaluated using clinical biomarkers. RESULTS. A large fraction (nearly 50%) of Lahu farmers were illiterate and could not speak Thai. Thai farmers worked fewer hours per week (39.4) than did Lahu farmers. Among Lahu farmers, AChE levels were significantly lower (worse) than those of Thai farmers. However, other health outcomes in these populations were similar. Formal education and language skills were not associated with pesticide exposures or health outcomes. Pesticide spraying was found to be a significant predictor of reduced AChE (OR=8.5, 95% CI 1.1–69.6). CONCLUSIONS. Pesticide exposures are a significant occupational health hazard among Thai hill tribe farmers. Training, potentially delivered by community health volunteers, is needed to communicate safe pesticide work practices to these farmers. PARTICIPANT CONSENT. Obtained ETHICS APPROVAL. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Mae Fah Luang University (REH-61080). COMPETING INTERESTS. The authors declare no competing financial interests. Black Smith Institute 2021-08-17 /pmc/articles/PMC8383788/ /pubmed/34434600 http://dx.doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-11.31.210908 Text en © Pure Earth 2021 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) ).
spellingShingle Research
Nambunmee, Kowit
Kawiya, Tharinya
Neitzel, Richard L
Seeprasert, Prapamon
Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand
title Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand
title_full Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand
title_fullStr Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand
title_short Pesticide Spraying and Reduced Cholinesterase Activity among Hill Tribe Farmers in Thailand
title_sort pesticide spraying and reduced cholinesterase activity among hill tribe farmers in thailand
topic Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8383788/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34434600
http://dx.doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-11.31.210908
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