Exposição a agrotóxicos e fertilizantes químicos : agravos à saúde dos trabalhadores no agronegócio do abacaxi, em Limoeiro do Norte-CE

Abstract

The intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers cause environmental damage and human poisoning. In humans they can cause poisoning which is manifested by several signs and symptoms. In the town of Limoeiro do Norte-CE/BRAZIL, workers in the pineapple agribusiness area, complain about health problems due to exposure to pesticides in their activities. The objective is to characterize the human health problems among workers exposed to pineapple agribusiness uses of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, in the town of Limoeiro do Norte-CE/BRAZIL, located in the valley of Jaguaribe-CE/BRAZIL. This is a descriptive study, with purposive samples, consisting of 75 people mobilized by social networks, using the quantitative and qualitative methodology. We carried out the implementation of a structured form containing data on socioeconomic, lifestyle, family medical history, characteristics of work, worker exposure, guidelines for field workers in pesticide use area and risk control measures adopted by the company, work relationship, clinical and toxicological characteristics, medical history and physical examination. The data processing occurred in Ele info 6, version 6.04 d, and the analysis in Stata version 9. Considering confidence interval of 95% and P value <0.05. Due to the complexity of the object under study, there was a qualitative approach, resulting to a visit to an agribusiness company and two focus groups. For interpretation about the significance attributed by informants to the investigated phenomenon, we performed a thorough reading of the speeches of focus groups. The sample is characterized by young adults, male, aged between 19 to 43 years. With family incomes from 01 to 02 minimum wages by 80.3%. There was negativity of 88.0% and 44.0% for tobacco use and alcohol consumption. About 50.6% of workers surveyed said they had more than 13 years of labor activity in agriculture, and from these 82.6% were employed, with one to four years in the company. Among the respondents, 94.6% reported contact with pesticides/fertilizers, and 56.6% considered to be indirect. Almost all (98.6%) thought that contact would cause harm to health and that 68.0% could not say to which pesticides they had been exposed to and 48.0% were exposed to fertilizers. 64.0% of workers reported having some health problem, while 34.7% reported symptoms of 1-4 and 18.7% of 5-8 symptoms. Health problems related to general symptoms were 67.0%, neurological 63.0% and 59.0% eyes problems. Headache was reported by 31.0% and 45.0% for ocular burning. The tests showing plasma cholinesterase were all normal, changes in liver function tests were 53.0%, 13.0% of SGOT, SGPT of 23.5% and 14.7% of the Gamma GT. For Gamma GT, values were observed from 107 U/L to 329 U/L in two workers. The values of the FA above normal were in 19.0% of the analyzed exams. Among the bilirubins, the BD was stood out with 13.0% above the normal range. Clinically, skin disease was found in 28.0% of samples; respiratory complaints in 11.0%, 18.0% of musculoskeletal complaints and mild hypertension in 6.7%. The clinical complaints associated with signs and symptoms reported and changes in some laboratory tests by the interviewees are the chronic or acute intoxication. Therefore, exposure to pesticides and fertilizers can be detrimental to the health of workers in the pineapple agribusiness in Limoeiro do Norte-CE/BRAZIL. Prospective studies aimed at measuring the impact of pesticides on workers and on the health system are needed.