IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i3p964-d316373.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pesticide Use and Serum Acetylcholinesterase Levels among Flower Farm Workers in Ethiopia—A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Meaza Gezu Shentema

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia)

  • Abera Kumie

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia)

  • Magne Bråtveit

    (Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Wakgari Deressa

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia)

  • Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi

    (School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dares Salaam 65015, Tanzania)

  • Bente E. Moen

    (Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
    Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

The flower industry in East Africa has grown in recent years, especially in the production and export of roses. The aim of this study was to assess pesticide use on selected flower farms in Ethiopia. Serum cholinesterase levels in workers were used as a marker of pesticide exposure. This study was a cross-sectional study involving 588 workers from 15 different flower farms. It had a response rate of 95.5%. The participants included 277 males (mean age 26 years; 148 pesticide sprayers and 129 non-sprayers) and 311 females (mean age 25 years; 156 working in greenhouses and 155 working outside the greenhouses). The researchers undertook structured interviews, blood sampling, and walkthrough surveys. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression were used in the statistical analyses. A total of 154 different trade names of pesticides were found. Of them, 31 (27%) were classified as moderately hazardous by the WHO, and 9% were organophosphates. Serum levels of cholinesterase deviating from 50–140 Michel units were considered abnormal. Abnormal serum cholinesterase levels (above 140 Michel units) were found in 97 participants (16.5%, 95% confidence interval 13.7–19.7%). There were no differences between the four job groups regarding cholinesterase levels. The high prevalence of abnormal serum cholinesterase levels might indicate the presence of pesticide intoxication. Thus, there is a need for routine monitoring of all workers exposed to pesticides, not only sprayers.

Suggested Citation

  • Meaza Gezu Shentema & Abera Kumie & Magne Bråtveit & Wakgari Deressa & Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi & Bente E. Moen, 2020. "Pesticide Use and Serum Acetylcholinesterase Levels among Flower Farm Workers in Ethiopia—A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:3:p:964-:d:316373
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/3/964/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/3/964/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Camilo Lesmes-Fabian & Claudia R. Binder, 2013. "Pesticide Flow Analysis to Assess Human Exposure in Greenhouse Flower Production in Colombia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Ming Ye & Jeremy Beach & Jonathan W. Martin & Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan, 2013. "Occupational Pesticide Exposures and Respiratory Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-30, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Meaza Gezu Shentema & Magne Bråtveit & Abera Kumie & Wakgari Deressa & Bente Elisabeth Moen, 2022. "Respiratory Health among Pesticide Sprayers at Flower Farms in Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-9, June.
    2. Gangwei Cai & Lei Xu & Weijun Gao & Yan Hong & Xiaoyu Ying & Yan Wang & Fanyue Qian, 2020. "The Positive Impacts of Exhibition-Driven Tourism on Sustainable Tourism, Economics, and Population: The Case of the Echigo–Tsumari Art Triennale in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-24, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Meaza Gezu Shentema & Magne Bråtveit & Abera Kumie & Wakgari Deressa & Bente Elisabeth Moen, 2022. "Respiratory Health among Pesticide Sprayers at Flower Farms in Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-9, June.
    2. Robyn Gilden & Erika Friedmann & Katie Holmes & Kimberly Yolton & Yingying Xu & Bruce Lanphear & Aimin Chen & Joseph Braun & Adam Spanier, 2020. "Gestational Pesticide Exposure and Child Respiratory Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Camilo Lesmes Fabian & Claudia R. Binder, 2015. "Dermal Exposure Assessment to Pesticides in Farming Systems in Developing Countries: Comparison of Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Leigh Thredgold & Sharyn Gaskin & Chloe Quy & Dino Pisaniello, 2019. "Exposure of Agriculture Workers to Pesticides: The Effect of Heat on Protective Glove Performance and Skin Exposure to Dichlorvos," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Rafael Junqueira Buralli & Amana Freitas Dultra & Helena Ribeiro, 2020. "Respiratory and Allergic Effects in Children Exposed to Pesticides—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Hans-Peter Hutter & Michael Kundi & Kathrin Lemmerer & Michael Poteser & Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Peter Wallner & Hanns Moshammer, 2018. "Subjective Symptoms of Male Workers Linked to Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Coffee Plantations in the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-10, September.
    7. Leonardo Zanchetti Meneghini & Gabriel Rübensam & Vinicius Claudino Bica & Amanda Ceccon & Fabiano Barreto & Marco Flores Ferrão & Ana Maria Bergold, 2014. "Multivariate Optimization for Extraction of Pyrethroids in Milk and Validation for GC-ECD and CG-MS/MS Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, November.
    8. Hussein H. Mwanga & Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie & Tanusha S. Singh & Kalavati Channa & Mohamed F. Jeebhay, 2016. "Relationship between Pesticide Metabolites, Cytokine Patterns, and Asthma-Related Outcomes in Rural Women Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, September.
    9. Siti Khairunnisaq Rudzi & Yu Bin Ho & Eugenie Sin Sing Tan & Juliana Jalaludin & Patimah Ismail, 2022. "Exposure to Airborne Pesticides and Its Residue in Blood Serum of Paddy Farmers in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Natalia Landeros & Soledad Duk & Carolina Márquez & Bárbara Inzunza & Ian S. Acuña-Rodríguez & Liliana A. Zúñiga-Venegas, 2022. "Genotoxicity and Reproductive Risk in Workers Exposed to Pesticides in Rural Areas of Curicó, Chile: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Ning Wang & Boshen Wang & Jinbo Wen & Xiuting Li & Liping Pan & Juan Zhang & Baoli Zhu, 2019. "Types of Exposure Pesticide Poisoning in Jiangsu Province, China; The Epidemiologic Trend between 2006 and 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-8, July.
    12. Upkardeep Pandher & Shelley Kirychuk & David Schneberger & Brooke Thompson & Gurpreet Aulakh & R. S. Sethi & Baljit Singh, 2023. "Adhesion Molecules in Lung Inflammation from Repeated Glyphosate Exposures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-14, April.
    13. Catherine L. Callahan & Manal Al-Batanony & Ahmed A. Ismail & Gaafar Abdel-Rasoul & Olfat Hendy & James R. Olson & Diane S. Rohlman & Matthew R. Bonner, 2014. "Chlorpyrifos Exposure and Respiratory Health among Adolescent Agricultural Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Suphaphat Kwonpongsagoon & Chanokwan Katasila & Pornpimol Kongtip & Susan Woskie, 2021. "Application Intensity and Spatial Distribution of Three Major Herbicides from Agricultural and Nonagricultural Practices in the Central Plain of Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    15. Ratana Sapbamrer & Surat Hongsibsong & Manoch Naksata & Wimol Naksata, 2021. "Insecticide Filtration Efficiency of Respiratory Protective Equipment Commonly Worn by Farmers in Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Ruirui Zheng & Jessica García-González & Raúl Romero-del Rey & Antonia López-Villén & Rafael García-Alvarez & Rosario Fadul-Calderon & Mar Requena-Mullor & Raquel Alarcón-Rodríguez, 2023. "Occupational Exposure to Pesticides as a Risk Factor for Sleep Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-9, February.
    17. Hanna Maria Elonheimo & Tiina Mattila & Helle Raun Andersen & Beatrice Bocca & Flavia Ruggieri & Elsi Haverinen & Hanna Tolonen, 2022. "Environmental Substances Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    18. Sailent Rizki Sari Simaremare & Chien-Che Hung & Chia-Jung Hsieh & Lih-Ming Yiin, 2019. "Relationship between Organophosphate and Pyrethroid Insecticides in Blood and Their Metabolites in Urine: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Rafael J. Buralli & Helena Ribeiro & Thais Mauad & Luís F. Amato-Lourenço & João M. Salge & Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano & Renata S. Leão & Rejane C. Marques & Daniele S. Silva & Jean Remy Davée Guimarães, 2018. "Respiratory Condition of Family Farmers Exposed to Pesticides in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-14, June.
    20. Xiaoning Wang & Yangyang Sun & Qian Wang & Fengying Liu & Weijie Yang & Xin Sui & Jun Yang & Minmin Zhang & Shuai Wang & Zhenyu Xiao & Yuan Luo & Yongan Wang & Tong Zhu, 2022. "Potential Common Mechanisms of Cytotoxicity Induced by Amide Herbicides via TRPA1 Channel Activation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:3:p:964-:d:316373. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.