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Document ID (ISN)105233
CIS number 06-667
ISSN - Serial title 1077-3525 - International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
Year 2005
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Mancini F., Van Bruggen A.H.C., Jiggins J.L.S., Ambatipudi A.C., Murphy H.
Title Acute pesticide poisoning among female and male cotton growers in India
Bibliographic information July-Sep. 2005, Vol.11, No.3, p.221-232. Illus. 38 ref.
Internet access http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1103_Mancini.pdf [in English]
Abstract A season-long assessment of acute pesticide poisoning risk among cotton-growing farmers was conducted in three villages in India. Fifty female cotton growers reported symptoms after exposures to pesticides by themselves and by their male relatives. Typically female tasks such as mixing concentrated pesticides and refilling spraying tanks were as hazardous as direct pesticide application. Of 323 reported events, 83.6% consisted of mild to severe poisoning symptoms. Ten percent of the pesticide application sessions were associated with three or more neurotoxic symptoms typical of poisoning by organophosphates, which were used in 47% of the applications. Although in 6% of the spray sessions the workers' neurotoxic effects were extremely serious, none sought medical care. Low-income marginal farmers and agricultural labourers were at greater risk of severe poisoning than were owners of larger farms who often used agricultural labour.
Descriptors (primary) India; pesticide poisoning; women; pesticides; cotton farming
Descriptors (secondary) neurotoxic effects; acute poisoning; pesticide spraying; symptoms; exposure evaluation; organophosphorus compounds
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceNetherlands
Subject(s) Agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry
Toxic and dangerous substances
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Agriculture
Agricultural chemicals