The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43802

Masaya Kato, PhD, MPH¹, Denise Zwahlen, PA-C, MPH¹, and Brenda René Hubbard². (1) Doctors for Global Health, P.O. Box 1761, Decatur, GA 30031, 404-377-3566, masayakato@post.harvard.edu, (2) Asociación de Desarrollo Económico Social - Santa Marta, 6ta, Calle Pte. #43, Barrio El Calvario, Sensuntepeque, Cabañas, El Salvador

Rural El Salvador is known as a region of heavy pesticide use. In order to assess pesticide-related health risk in an agricultural community, we carried out a participatory survey research with eight local youths (ages 15-21). They participated in the all aspects of the study: questionnaire development and pilot testing, interviews, data input and analysis, and presentation to the community. Systematic sampling of every fourth household resulted in 87 primary farmers (PFs) being interviewed. Our study revealed that highly toxic pesticides are widely used; e.g. 60% of PFs use methyl parathion (WHO class Ia "extremely hazardous" pesticide); 97% use paraquat. Furthermore, a large proportion of PFs reported experiencing acute symptoms known to be associated with organophosphate insecticides within 24 hrs after spraying in the last year; e.g. 59% of PFs reported feeling loss of strength in hands or feet; 46% reported difficulty thinking; 15% reported vomiting. Our results also showed a large proportion of children are engaged in agriculture, suggesting that they are at risk of not only non-occupational exposure but also occupational exposure to pesticides. Together with our data showing inadequate use of pesticides is very prevalent in this community, present study suggest that there is a significant risk that people's health and children's development are acutely and chronically affected by adverse effect of pesticides. There are urgent needs for community-oriented intervention to improve and reduce the use of pesticides and advocacy efforts to change the government policy permitting the use of highly toxic pesticides.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• list health effects of organophosphate insecticides;
• describe the realities of pesticide use in rural El Salvador;
• discuss pesticide regulation from international perspective.

Keywords: Pesticides, Participatory Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.