Long-term exposure to harmful pesticides and fertilizers is a major concern amongst many food consumers. However, exposure to toxic substances is almost guaranteed for many farmworkers who handle these agrochemicals frequently. As a result, farmworkers face a much higher risk of suffering from health implications due to occupational hazards. This post summarises the different pollution pathways described by Damalas and Koutroubas (2016) that exposes farmers to agrochemicals.
Pollution exposure routes
While many scenarios could result in exposure to agrochemicals, there are three main routes of exposure where contaminants could enter the human body (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Routes of exposure to environmental health hazards (Damalas & Kortroubas, 2016)
First, inhalation involves breathing in contaminants in the air, which could lead to absorptions into the bloodstream. Second, direct contact with hazardous substances can lead to contaminants entering the bloodstream through the pores or cuts in the skin. Third, ingestion involves directly eating or drinking contaminants, which will affect the digestive system.
Farmers are most likely to be exposed to agrochemicals through inhalation and direct contact since they handle these substances frequently. Most cases of ingestion are accidental when chemical containers are unlabelled. Unfortunately, intentional ingestion of agrochemicals has also been a method of suicide within rural communities (Utyasheva et al., 2021).
Tasks on the farm that lead to exposure
Three farm activities are highly associated with chemical exposure. The first is preparation, where farmworkers have to mix and load agrochemical products. This task is associated with high exposure intensities because farmworkers are handling highly concentrated chemicals. Fumes from the chemicals can lead to inhalation and chemical splashes could lead to direct contact with the substances. Direct contact with farmers’ eyes could be especially severe because they are sensitive to absorption and can cause blindness.
The second task is the application of agrochemicals. During this process, large amounts of chemicals are released into the environment. It deteriorates the local air quality and could cause chemical drifts due to onsite wind conditions. As a result, farmworkers are susceptible to inhalation and direct contact. Farmworkers might be exposed to more agrochemicals during the application than preparation because it is a more time-consuming task.
The third task involves the cleaning of spray equipment. Unanticipated spills and splashes could lead to direct contact with the chemicals. According to Lebailly et al. (2008), this cleaning process is one of the main causes of agrochemical exposure in some farm operations.
Recognising hazards on farms and identifying exposure pathways are necessary steps towards minimising the health risks of farm operations for farmers. Long-term or even lifetime exposure to agrochemicals could lead to chronic health issues for these farmers. Beyond farmers using these chemicals with caution, producers and suppliers of these chemicals should share the responsibility of communicating the right ways to safely optimise these products.
References:
Damalas, C. A., & Koutroubas, S. D. (2016). Farmers’ exposure to pesticides: Toxicity types and ways of prevention. Toxics (Basel), 4(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics4010001
Lebailly, P., Bouchart, V., Baldi, I., Lecluse, Y., Heutte, N., Gislard, A., & Malas, J. (2008;2009;). Exposure to pesticides in open-field farming in France. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 53(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/men072
Utyasheva, L., Sharma, D., Ghimire, R., Karunarathne, A., Robertson, G., & Eddleston, M. (2021). Suicide by pesticide ingestion in Nepal and the impact of pesticide regulation. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1-1136. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11155-3