Reginald Quansah1, John R Bend2, Abukari Abdul-Rahaman3, Frederick Ato Armah4, Isaac Luginaah5, David Kofi Essumang6, Samuel Iddi7, Jonathan Chevrier8, Samuel Jerry Cobbina9, Edward Nketiah-Amponsah10, Samuel Adu-Kumi11, Godfred Darko12, Samuel Afful13. 1. Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. Electronic address: reginald.quansah@ug.edu.gh. 2. Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Siebens-Drake Medical Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada. 3. Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. 4. Department of Environmental Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. 5. Department of Geography, Western University, Ontario, Canada. 6. Environmental Health Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. 7. Department of Statistics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. 8. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. 9. Department of Ecotourism and Environmental Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala, Ghana. 10. Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. 11. Chemicals Control and Management Centre, Environmental Protection Agency, Accra, Ghana. 12. Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 13. Nuclear Chemistry and Environmental Research Centre, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Indiscriminate use of pesticides is a common practice amongst farmers in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) across the globe. However, there is little evidence defining whether pesticide use is associated with respiratory symptoms. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 vegetable farmers in southern Ghana (Akumadan). Data on pesticide use was collected with an interviewed-administered questionnaire. The concentration of seven organochlorine pesticides and 3 pyrethroid pesticides was assayed in urine collected from a sub-population of 100 vegetable farmers by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). RESULTS: A statistically significant exposure-response relationship of years per day spent mixing/applying fumigant with wheezing [30-60 days/year: prevalence ratio (PR)=1.80 (95% CI 1.30, 2.50); >60days/year: 3.25 (1.70-6.33), p for trend=0.003] and hours per day spent mixing/applying fumigant with wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.20 (1.02-1.41), 3-5h/day: 1.45 (1.05-1.99), >5h/day: 1.74 (1.07-2.81), p for trend=0.0225]; days per year spent mixing/applying fungicide with wheezing [30-60 days/year: 2.04 (1.31-3.17); >60days/year: 4.16 (1.72-10.08), p for trend=0.0017] and h per day spent mixing/applying fungicide with phlegm production [1-2h/day: 1.25 (1.05-1.47), 3-5h/day: 1.55 (1.11-2.17), >5h/day: 1.93 (1.17-3.19), p for trend=0.0028] and with wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.10 (1.00-1.50), 3-5h/day: 1.20 (1.11-1.72), >5h/day: 1.32 (1.09-2.53), p for trend=0.0088]; h per day spent mixing/applying insecticide with phlegm production [1-2h/day: 1.23 (1.09-1.62), 3-5h/day: 1.51 (1.20-2.58), >5h/day: 1.85 (1.31-4.15), p for trend=0.0387] and wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.22 (1.02-1.46), 3-5h/day: 1.49 (1.04-2.12), >5h/day: 1.81 (1.07-3.08), p for trend=0.0185] were observed. Statistically significant exposure-response association was also observed for a combination of activities that exposes farmers to pesticide with all 3 respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, significant exposure-response associations for 3 organochlorine insecticides: beta-HCH, heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, vegetable farmers in Ghana may be at increased risk for respiratory symptoms as a result of exposure to pesticides.
BACKGROUND: Indiscriminate use of pesticides is a common practice amongst farmers in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) across the globe. However, there is little evidence defining whether pesticide use is associated with respiratory symptoms. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 vegetable farmers in southern Ghana (Akumadan). Data on pesticide use was collected with an interviewed-administered questionnaire. The concentration of seven organochlorine pesticides and 3 pyrethroid pesticides was assayed in urine collected from a sub-population of 100 vegetable farmers by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). RESULTS: A statistically significant exposure-response relationship of years per day spent mixing/applying fumigant with wheezing [30-60 days/year: prevalence ratio (PR)=1.80 (95% CI 1.30, 2.50); >60days/year: 3.25 (1.70-6.33), p for trend=0.003] and hours per day spent mixing/applying fumigant with wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.20 (1.02-1.41), 3-5h/day: 1.45 (1.05-1.99), >5h/day: 1.74 (1.07-2.81), p for trend=0.0225]; days per year spent mixing/applying fungicide with wheezing [30-60 days/year: 2.04 (1.31-3.17); >60days/year: 4.16 (1.72-10.08), p for trend=0.0017] and h per day spent mixing/applying fungicide with phlegm production [1-2h/day: 1.25 (1.05-1.47), 3-5h/day: 1.55 (1.11-2.17), >5h/day: 1.93 (1.17-3.19), p for trend=0.0028] and with wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.10 (1.00-1.50), 3-5h/day: 1.20 (1.11-1.72), >5h/day: 1.32 (1.09-2.53), p for trend=0.0088]; h per day spent mixing/applying insecticide with phlegm production [1-2h/day: 1.23 (1.09-1.62), 3-5h/day: 1.51 (1.20-2.58), >5h/day: 1.85 (1.31-4.15), p for trend=0.0387] and wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.22 (1.02-1.46), 3-5h/day: 1.49 (1.04-2.12), >5h/day: 1.81 (1.07-3.08), p for trend=0.0185] were observed. Statistically significant exposure-response association was also observed for a combination of activities that exposes farmers to pesticide with all 3 respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, significant exposure-response associations for 3 organochlorine insecticides: beta-HCH, heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, vegetable farmers in Ghana may be at increased risk for respiratory symptoms as a result of exposure to pesticides.
Authors: Reginald Quansah; John R Bend; Frederick Ato Armah; Felix Bonney; Joshua Aseidu; David Oscar Yawson; Michael Osei Adu; Isaac Luginaah; David Kofi Essumang; Abukari Abdul-Rahaman; Samuel Cobbina; Samuel Iddi; Matthew Tersigni; Samuel Afful; Peter Osei-Fosu; Edward Nketiah-Amponsah Journal: Environ Monit Assess Date: 2019-11-04 Impact factor: 2.513
Authors: Christian Schyllert; Martin Andersson; Linnea Hedman; Magnus Ekström; Helena Backman; Anne Lindberg; Eva Rönmark Journal: Eur Clin Respir J Date: 2018-05-15
Authors: Enoch Akyeampong; John R Bend; Isaac Luginaah; David Oscar Yawson; Samuel Jerry Cobbina; Frederick Ato Armah; Michael Osei Adu; David Kofi Essumang; Samuel Iddi; Paul K Botwe; Reginald Quansah Journal: Environ Health Insights Date: 2022-04-30