RESPIRATORY STATUS RELATED TO PESTICIDES EXPOSURE IN A RURAL AREA OF tRANSYLVANIA
MARIA-ELISABETA LOVÁSZ, ALEXANDRU ZEIC
ABSTRACT. – Respiratory status related to pesticides exposure in a rural area of Transylvania. Respiratory disease is today an important clinical problem for agricultural workers. Several studies have reported increased risk of respiratory problems, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, among agricultural workers. In order to determine the extent of the problems related to pesticide use, a study was performed on the rural population of Sâncraiu, Romania, during 2011. Out of the group of 100 subjects investigated on the basis of a questionnaire in the study that started in 2011, 27 subjects agreed to participate in the respiratory status assessment based on performing some respiratory functional tests by using a portable spirometer. For all the explored functional respiratory parameters there are differences between the group that apply pesticides and the group that do not apply pesticides, but they do not reach the limit of statistical significance. There is a special situation in the case of the predicted lung age that is with 4.59 years higher for those exposed to pesticides and smoking in relation to those not exposed thereupon there is no difference. In general the subjects prepare and apply pesticides and afterwards wash the utensils without using full protective equipment. The most commonly used applicators are those in the form of spray devices, especially for insecticides used on crops. In this context we consider that, as shown by the test results, the respiratory status of the subjects that use pesticides may be affected.
Keywords: pesticides exposure, respiratory disease, agricultural workers.