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PubMed2005

Estimates of acute pesticide poisoning in agricultural workers in less developed countries.

The benefits of crop protection products have to be balanced against the risks to farmers and other agricultural workers handling and applying them. The extent of acute pesticide poisoning in these workers, particularly in less developed countries, has often been based on inadequate information. A number of approaches have been taken by researchers to acquire information on pesticide poisoning. These have resulted in worldwide (global) estimates and regional, localised or field assessments. The methods include descriptive epidemiology, cross-sectional and case studies. Attempts to estimate global pesticide poisonings have often been based upon extrapolations and assumptions from chemical-related fatalities in a small number of countries; such estimates do not provide reliable data. Epidemiological studies, relying mainly on hospital and poison centre data, have been biased towards the more severe poisonings, whereas field studies indicate that occupational pesticide poisoning is associated with less severe and minor effects. Many reports do not adequately distinguish between intentional, accidental and occupational pesticide poisoning statistics or are dominated by cases of intentional (suicidal) poisoning which, by their nature, result in severe or fatal results. The majority of reports do not adequately describe whether individual cases are minor, moderate or severe poisonings. In order to assess information on acute pesticide poisoning in agricultural workers in less developed countries and to draw conclusions on the extent and severity of occupational poisoning, the most recent (post-1990) literature was reviewed. Data were also derived from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Office (ILO). The collected information was analysed to assess the extent and severity of occupational acute pesticide poisoning in less developed countries. Occupational acute pesticide poisonings in these countries are a small proportion of overall reported poisoning and are associated with the more minor effects of pesticides. They are a small proportion (<1-4%) of the several million cases of occupational injuries and ill health in agricultural workers worldwide. However, improvements are required for the collection of acute pesticide poisoning data in less developed countries and in the verification of the circumstances of poisonings and their relative severity. There is the need to move away from further attempts to estimate global data and concentrate instead on obtaining reliable data from realistic crop protection activities.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Impacts on water quality in the upper Elbow River.

Recent work has found evidence of deterioration in water quality in the Elbow River upstream from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We sampled this basin to describe spatial and temporal trends and factors that could be contributing to this deterioration. Sources near Calgary generally contributed most of the total phosphorus (TP) entering the river, and most total suspended solids (TSS) during low to average flows. During high flows, a large influx of TSS occurred further upstream. Sources of TP could include runoff from residential developments and agriculture, and groundwater, while re-suspension of bed material, erosion, and storm sewers may contribute TSS. Increasing trends in dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and ammonia suggest that sources in this reach are also contributing dissolved nutrients. Appreciable loading of nitrate + nitrite also occurred near Calgary, with a significant increasing trend in nitrate + nitrite occurring at every Elbow River site and several tributaries. Fecal coliforms have increased significantly over time at a downstream site. Runoff from residential developments, agriculture, or contributions from groundwater could account for this trend. In the 2003 bacterial source tracking study, DNA markers from ruminant animals were found in samples from most locations sampled in this basin, even at some headwaters sites, but no human markers were found.

Alberta↗
PubMed1997

Agricultural pesticide use in developing countries: health effects and research needs.

Large worker populations in the Third World are exposed to increasing amounts of pesticides, including pesticides severely restricted and banned in industrialized countries. Studies on knowledge, attitudes, and practices indicate that unsafe use of pesticides is the rule in Third World countries. Surveys of acute poisonings show high rates in these countries, despite underregistration. The scarce studies on chronic health outcomes demonstrate neurotoxic, reproductive, and dermatologic effects. Exposure assessment consists mainly of cholinesterase testing, and few studies have quantified dermal and respiratory exposure. The few intervention studies demonstrate the need for evaluation of the impact of preventive measures and policies. There is no evidence that widespread "safe-use" programs have greatly affected exposure and morbidity. It was concluded that research should focus on simple methods for surveillance of exposure and on surveillance of acute illness and its causes in order to develop and evaluate rapid local interventions. Studies on chronic effects should be carried out in selected countries, aiming at long-term and broader interventions. Policies that promote the use of pesticides should be critically evaluated. North-South and South-South research collaborations must be encouraged to address this global health problem.

Africa↗
PubMed1986

Food, nutrition, and agriculture: a liaison for world development.

In spite of larger worldwide food harvests in recent years, the number of people in underdeveloped countries without enough food to eat is increasing. Those most likely to suffer from undernutrition are the traditionally vulnerable groups, especially the rural poor. In many underdeveloped countries, the average farm size is smaller, the number of landless farm workers is larger, and the number of rural poor families without land on which to grow food or money to buy it for home consumption is greater than ever before. Undernutrition is often viewed as a family health problem only. Thus, education in nutrition is generally directed toward home economists, health workers, and primary school teachers. Since unavailability of food is usually the most limiting factor in improving nutritional status of the poor, all agencies dealing with the food chain from production to consumption should be involved. An educational partnership between health, nutrition, and agriculture may be the most important alliance that could be brought into being to ensure enough food for the nutritional well-being of the world's population. This article presents the rationale for education in nutrition in the preparation of agriculturalists and reviews some of the past efforts and present activities of national and international organizations to meld nutrition into agricultural world development programs.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Green-blue water system innovations for upgrading of smallholder farming systems--a policy framework for development.

Rainfed agriculture and other depletion of water by green flows have as yet an untapped potential for improving livelihoods in semi-arid areas through income and food security. A vivid evidence of this is seen in the fact that, although working full time on food production, majority of smallholder farmers are frequently affected by shortage of food or famines. At the same time enough examples exist to show that productivity of labor, water and land under rainfed farming can be doubled or even trebled through proper land management and improved agronomic inputs supported by modest investments to reduce impacts of dry spells. However, these shining examples remain small 'islands of success' across the entire semi-arid areas. Farmers have not adopted these systems due to poor ratio of benefit to costs brought about by inadequate development or complete lack of food trade among the rural areas. This paper argues that there is a need for policy, strategic and programmatic frameworks which facilitate integrated management of land, water and markets. For this kind of strategy to work, a local market for food should be ensured to absorb at competitive prices the surplus produced by farmers in years of good rains. This will promote wealth creation and asset building among the poor in semi-arid areas. A food-exchange "futures" mechanism based on the principle of virtual water trade is proposed as a basis for achieving this objective.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1985

Cropping systems and household food security: evidence from three West African countries.

The following four articles describe several aspects of the complex yet basic processes of food production and consumption in African settings. Three elements in the picture stand out as subjects of current research and development action: traditional food crops, seasonality and women's activities. It is important that specialists enhance their understanding of those processes and the dynamic interrelations among particular elements, in the interests of improved nutrition and rural development.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1997

Agriculture: access to technology limited.

From country to country and even regionally, the roles of women in agriculture vary, but most of their labor is in unpaid subsistence production and their contributions tend to be underestimated, according to the results of the [UN] Secretary-General's report. Depending on circumstances, they have complementary roles with men, sharing or dividing tasks in the production of crops, care of animals, and forestry management. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, women contribute 60-80% of labor in food production for both household consumption and sale, while in Malaysia the women account for only 35% of the agricultural labor force, and in Ireland the participation rate is only 10.4%. Although women make this important amount of labor contributions to agricultural production, "development policies tend to favor export crops to earn foreign exchange and the agricultural research tends to address the improvement of production and technologies for commercial production". This results in limited access for women to technical knowledge and innovations, including irrigation, machinery, farming techniques and extension services. This is strengthened by the fact that most of the extension services target farmers who own land and can obtain credit to invest in input and technology.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1995

Occupational disorders affecting agricultural workers in tropical developing countries: results of a literature review.

This paper presents the results of a literature review undertaken to determine the nature and extent of occupational health problems in tropical agriculture and to identify opportunities for ergonomics intervention. Occupational disorders were categorized as follows: disorders associated with the use of pesticides; disorders associated with biomechanical and postural demands; and disorders associated with harmful materials other than pesticides. It was concluded that the high rate of pesticide poisoning in tropical agriculture is partly a consequence of the inappropriate transfer of technology from industrialized to developing countries. Ergonomics intervention has the potential to reduce the incidence of occupational pesticide poisoning in developing countries. Biomechanical disorders are commonly presumed to be prevalent in tropical agriculture, but the evidence to confirm this is lacking. Again, ergonomics intervention has the potential to minimize such disorders, but the cultural significance associated with traditional tools and practices must be considered in such a development programme. Disorders associated with contact with harmful materials have been described as occupational diseases. Pesticides aside, these have received little attention, partly because it is difficult to distinguish between occupational and non-occupational incidences of such diseases. Opportunities to reduce the occurrence of these occupational diseases could be limited.

Journal Article↗