Exposure to pesticide and its association with respiratory health among paddy farmers at Tanjung Karang, Selangor

Mohd Samsuddin, Nuranis Syfainie (2016) Exposure to pesticide and its association with respiratory health among paddy farmers at Tanjung Karang, Selangor. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Background: In Malaysia, agriculture sectors contribute significantly to the country's economy. Malaysia is still unable to achieve self-sufficiency in food production for its population. However, many of initiatives to increase rice crop yield such as implementing the extensive usage of pesticides to protect and cultivate growth of paddy crop in farms. Paddy farmers using pesticides in their agricultural activities with limited knowledge of its deleterious effect on community, health and the environment. Farmers directly deal with different types of pesticides on a daily basis. Long term exposure to pesticides without proper consideration for safety when managing pesticide activities may cause chronic health problems such as respiratory health problems and lung dysfunction. Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the exposure of pesticide and its association with respiratory health among paddy farmers at Tanjung Karang, Selangor and office workers working in Tanjung Karang town as a comparative group. Methodology: One hundred and forty eight (148) respondents consist of paddy farmers and office workers were selected. Cross Sectional Comparative Study is used as a research study design. Socio-demographic background, exposure of pesticide, respiratory health symptoms and others related information were collected from standardize questionnaire from American Thoracic Society. Lung function of respondents was evaluated by using Chest Graph Spirometry. Results: The result shows that the duration of exposure to pesticides among exposed group, mostly from low exposure (86.48%) followed by moderate exposure (9.45%) and high exposure (4.05%). Meanwhile for comparative group majority respondents exposed to pesticides in low duration (86.48%) and moderate duration were (13.52%). None of the respondents from comparative group exposed to high levels of pesticide exposure. There is a significant difference in respiratory symptoms(cough and phlegm),as it is significantly higher among paddy farmers compared to the comparative group, (p< 0.001).As for being exposed to high level of pesticide, exposed group were 2 times more likely to experience cough and they were 3 times more likely to get phlegm. The study also indicates the lung function of: FVC% (t=-1.470, p=0.001) and FEV₁% (t=-1.526, p=0.001) were lower among the exposed group compared to the comparative group. Meanwhile, the prevalence of an abnormality of FVC% was 79.72% among the exposed group and 37.83% among the comparative group. An abnormality FEV₁ was found in 89.18% and 31.08% of respondents in the both study groups. There was a significant association in term of lung abnormalities for FVC% on duration exposure of pesticide (χ²= 2.903, p= 0.001).Conclusion: The result of this study showed that the paddy farmers are at risk of respiratory illnesses, as reflected by an increase in the reported respiratory symptoms and impairment in lung function. Keywords: Pesticides, Respiratory health problem, Paddy Farmers, Lung function

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Mr Muhamad Fazril Awang
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2022 08:20
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2022 08:20
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/290

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