Pesticide Toxicity in the Farmers of Sindh an Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Pesticides being potentially toxic agents and harmful to human and eco-system are deliberately added to our environment for protecting the crops towards better yields- The studies of pesticide toxicity have been ignored in the farmers of Sindh as yet. In this regard the initiative was taken for the epidemiological study. A questionnaire was designed to conduct the interviews of the farmers directly exposed during July -August season. They were supposed to reply about the nature of pesticides, doses sprayed, exposure timings along with duration of spray and health complaints during, after spray and types of toxicity symptoms. 214 male farmers from 11 to 70 years of age who have been exposed to 21 different pesticides of six groups of agro-chemical compounds were called upon to answer. Chlorinated hydrocarbon compound Endosulfan as product and Orqanoohos Dhorous as group containing pesticides. was noted the most frequently used- The age groups 11-20 and 41 - 50 years have been reported as most affected. Two-third of the surveyed population complained for 20 various ailments. Among those vertigo followed by headache. unconsciousness, body allergies, etc as the major symptoms. The highest percent (94.4%) of these were assessed at district Ghotki whereas the lowest affected percent (53.3%) was recorded from district Shikarpur. As a whole 65.2% farmers were noted as affected. This epidemiological study discloses the pesticide toxicity more intensive among the farmers & at higher scale than the WHO recommended classification of pesticides by hazard.