The association between liver enzymes level and exposure to herbicide among paddy farmers in Tanjung Karang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Baharum, Hafida (2012) The association between liver enzymes level and exposure to herbicide among paddy farmers in Tanjung Karang, Selangor Darul Ehsan. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Summary: Introduction: In the paddy-growing areas in Malaysia, herbicides 2,4-D and paraquat are most commonly used by the farmers. Both are listed class II in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Long-tenn exposure to herbicide, without proper consideration for safety when managing pesticide activities, may cause chronic health problems such as cancer, liver abnormalities and kidney dysfunction. The main objective of this study is to determine the liver enzymes level and exposure to herbicide among paddy farmers Methodology: A cross-section analytical study was conducted to evaluate the risk of pesticide exposure to those applying herbicide in the paddy-growing areas of Sawah Sepadan, Tanjung Karang , Selangor, Malaysia. A purposive sampling method was used to select on the respondents based on inclusive criteria such as age between 20 to 60 years, male and have work experience above 6 month. Questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic symptoms of liver injury and skin symptoms. Blood was collected about 5ml by registered medical personnel's and was analyzed by Elisa reader (Elektrospektrofotometer "Cobas Mira"). While Visual Scoring System with Fluorescent Tracers was used to identify skin exposure to herbicide and determinants of Dermal Exposure Ranking Method was used to calculate the exposure of herbicide. Result: There was significant different in GGT, AL T and AST enzyme level among exposed group and comparative group GGT (U/I) with Z = -6.021, P <0.001, ALT (U/l) with Z = -6.678 P <0.001 and AST (U/l) predicted with Z = ¬6.325, P <0.001. Moreover, there was a significant difference in health complaint such as eye itchiness during and after working, nausea during working and skin itchiness with the p<0.05. Mean while, most of the pesticide exposure can be seen on right of the finger (36.9%) of the farmers; thorax back (35.2%) and right palm (25.4%) are the most body part exposed to the pesticide while spraying activity. Discussion: From the finding, it shows that there were significant different of liver enzyme level among workers that highly exposed with herbicide and workers that not highly exposed with herbicide. This study indicated that exposure to elevated concentration liver enzyme level to herbicide is the risk factors in the development of skin itchiness, eye itchiness and nausea among farmers. Conclusion: The result from this research showed that the farmers that exposed highly exposed to the herbicide have high level of liver enzyme due to the spraying activity. There was an association between the exposure to herbicide and health problems such as skin itchiness, eye itchiness and nausea Keywords: Paddy farmer; herbicide; DREM; dermal exposure; liver enzymes.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	22 Nov 2022 08:13
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2023 01:07
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/264

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