O-24 Acute health symptoms following pesticides exposure among farmers in Kelantan state, Malaysia

Introduction

The use of pesticides poses a potential serious health threat to occupationally exposed populations. However, there is limited information on acute health effects that may follow pesticide exposure among farmers in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of self- reported acute health symptoms occurring 48 hours after a spraying event and identify potential risk factors associated with these symptoms.

Methods

A study was conducted in farmers from the Bachok and Kota Bharu districts, Kelantan state, Malaysia between September 2018 and February 2019. Both demographic and use of pesticide information was collected. A symptom diary was used to collect data on self-reported ill-health symptoms for seven days after use of a pesticide. The symptoms were categorised into pyrexial and respiratory factors.

Results

150 farmers growing either rice (n=83) or vegetables/fruits (n=67) participated. More than half of the farmers used two or more types of pesticide. This can be observed especially among rice farmers. 32.7% of farmers reported on at least one occasion a health symptom within first 48hours after spraying. Symptoms were more common among the rice farmers (p=0.04) and the most common symptoms were feeling unusually tired which was reported by 16% of farmers, followed by feeling sweaty (13.3%) and having a headache (13%). 18.7% of the farmers were identified as having a pyrexial factor. The farmers who wore face shields had an increased risk (OR 2.9; 95% CI: 1.01, 8.71) and the farmers who wore chemically resistant boots had a reduced risk of having the pyrexial factor (OR 0.23; 95%CI: 0.08, 0.70).

Conclusion

Acute health symptoms were observed among the farmers following pesticide exposure. However, the symptoms were not specific to pesticides and might be due to other causes. The results will provide baseline data on pesticide exposure and health effects in Malaysia.