Romero Marinho de Moura

Analise da exposição de trabalhadores rurais a agrotoxicos

Objective: To analyze the use and handling of pesticides by workers from ten rural communities in the city of Vitoria de Santo Antao-PE. Methods: Observational cross- sectional descriptive study was conducted from January to July 2010, through the application of a structured questionnaire to a sample of convenience. Sample size was estimated with a level of significance (α) of 5% in order to access variables on personal data, use and handling of pesticides. Results: Of 230 farm workers in the studied region, most were women (n=157; 69.2%) with incomplete elementary school level (n=130; 57%). It was observed that 141 (61.3%) respondent workers reported to use pesticides and only 3 (0.9%) applied the product under technical guidance of experts. Of the interviewees, 97 (28.3%) were unaware of the grace period, 67 (19.5%) unaware of recycling law, 95 (27.7%) did not use personal protective equipment, 80 (23.3%) used the rivers for washing the equipment and 108 (31.5%) reused the remains of liquid preparations. Conclusions: The harmful exposure of rural workers who used pesticides and the permanent environment contamination are evidenced. Such data reflects an agricultural model that seeks productivity and financial profits without proper compliance to health promotion and quality of the environment. doi:10.5020/18061230.2013.p182