Pesticide exposures among Hmong farmers in Thailand

• Published in: International journal of occupational and environmental health Vol. 7; no. 4; p. 313
• Main Authors: Kunstadter, P, Prapamontol, T, Sirirojn, B O, Sontirat, A, Tansuhaj, A, Khamboonruang, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-10-2001
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Agriculture - economics; Agriculture - statistics & numerical data; Carbamates; Child; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - blood; Environmental Health - statistics & numerical data; Female; Food Contamination - statistics & numerical data; Hazardous Substances - adverse effects; Herbicides - blood; Humans; Insecticides - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Organophosphorus Compounds; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Pesticide Residues - adverse effects; Pesticides - adverse effects; Protective Clothing; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Sex Factors; Thailand; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Thailand
• ISSN: 1077-3525
• DOI: 10.1179/oeh.2001.7.4.313

Highland Hmong farmers in Thailand have abandoned shifting cultivation of subsistence crops and turned to chemical-intensive cultivation of non-narcotic permanent field cash crops. Three highland communities and Hmong in urban Chiang Mai were studied. Most rural study participants applied chemicals, primarily to control insects, weeds, and fungus, by backpack and machine sprays and by hand. Hmong women have less Thai language skill than men and less information concerning hazards of exposure or use of protective clothing. Most Hmong know of the health hazards, but many fail to use adequate protective clothing to prevent exposure. Screening showed 20-69% of 582 Hmong adults with risky or unsafe levels of cholinesterase inhibition, an indicator of exposure to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. Exposure rates are as high among those who do not actually apply pesticides as among those who do, suggesting exposure by routes in addition to direct contact associated with application.