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Med. Pr. 2005;56(3)

Exposure to pesticides among pregnant women working in agriculture

Ekspozycja na pestycydy kobiet w ciąży pracujących w rolnictwie

Małgorzata Gawora-Ziółek1, Joanna Jurewicz2, Wojciech Hanke2 1Z Niepublicznego Zakładu Opieki Zdrowotnej "Sanitas" w Bielawach koło Łowicza 2 Z Zakładu Epidemiologii środowiskowej Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Łodzi

Abstract

Background: Pesticides have been used since the early days of modern agriculture. They are biologically active compounds that may pose a grave risk to health during or after their use. The available data, documenting pesticide exposures and related health effects in farmers, especially in pregnant women, are limited. Materials and Methods: Women were informed that the purpose of the research was to gather information about the exposure to pesticides during pregnancy. They were asked to provide information about their work in the field, sprayings or preparatory work (washing clothes after spraying, cleaning, spraying equipment, preparing mixture for spraying). We received information about all sprayings in household during womanśs pregnancy, trade names of pesticides, names of active ingredients, type of cultivation and its area. Results: The survey of pregnant women working in agriculture provided us with knowledge of potential hazards resulting from their work during pregnancy, especially from their involvement in spraying or preparatory work and working in the field after spraying. Other data obtained informed us what kind of pesticides were used in agriculture. Conclusions: The results indicate the necessity for increasing awareness of potential exposure to pesticides and their harmful effect among workers, especially among pregnant women. There is also a need to estimate real exposure via biological monitoring.

Key words

agricultural work, exposure to pesticides, pregnant women