Neurological Health Symptoms Associated with Pesticide Exposure among Farmers in Sharkia Governorate Districts | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||
| Article 49, Volume 89, Issue 2, October 2022, Pages 6367-6372 PDF (372.6 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2022.269976 | ||
| Author | ||
| Mryhan Ahmed Adel Hammouda* | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background:Pesticides are widely utilized in agriculture, even pesticides have been outlawed in Western nations for owing to safety concerns remain extensively utilized in Egypt. Even though there are few researches on the neurological symptoms linked to pesticide exposure in Egypt. Recently, around 40% of the workforce in Egypt is worked in agriculture, with a risk of exposure to pesticides. Objective: This study's objective was to assess the neurological health effects of pesticide exposure among Egyptian farmers in the districts of Sharkia governorate. Patients and Methods:A case control study was held on 95 farmers and comparable non-exposed controls from different farms in four districts out of thirteen in Sharkia governorate were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Then, during the period between March and July 2020, interviews were conducted to gather demographic information, occupational history, and neurological health problems related to pesticide exposure. Blood samples underwent to acetyl-cholinesterase test to assess the extent of pesticide exposure. Results:Ninety-four percent of pesticide users claimed to have contact with organophosphate insecticides. The most common neurological symptom reported was a headache (69.5%), which was followed by poor attention (64.2%), a short memory (57.9%), and fatigue (55.8 percent). There was a statistically significant higher depression of AChE activity and its adjusted value (Q level) AChE/Hb level among farmers than their controls. Conclusion:A high prevalence of neurological symptoms was reported among Egyptian farmers using pesticides, which attributed to pesticide exposure causing severe depression in cholinesterase test. It`s recommended to conduct more informative researches to assess risk factors and improve awareness. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Agriculture; Pesticide exposure; Farmers and acetyl-choline esterase activity | ||
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