Pesticide Poisoning of Farm Workers : Implications of Blood Test Results from Vietnam

In this paper, the authors have assessed the incidence and determinants of pesticide poisoning among rice farmers in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Blood cholinesterase tests suggest that the incidence of poisoning from exposure to organophosphates and carbamates is quite high in Vietnam. Using the medical test results as benchmarks, the authors find that farmers' self-reported symptoms have very weak associations with actual poisoning. Regression analysis of blood tests reveals a lower incidence of poisoning for farmers who avoid the most toxic pesticides and use protective items. The authors also find very large provincial differences in poisoning incidence after they control for individual factors. The results highlight the potential importance of negative externalities, and suggest that future research on pesticide-related damage should include information on local water, air, and soil contamination.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dasgupta, Susmita, Meisner, Craig, Wheeler, David, Lam, Nhan Thi, Xuyen, Khuc
Format: Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2005-06
Subjects:ACUTE POISONING, AGRICULTURAL LAND, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AIR, ANEMIA, ASTHMA, CHRONIC POISONING, COOPERATIVES, CROPS, DDT, DEPRESSION, DUNG, EGGS, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES, FAO, FARM, FARMER, FARMERS, FARMING, FARMING SYSTEMS, FARMS, FATIGUE, FIELD WORK, HEADACHES, HEALTH CARE, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, HEALTH EFFECTS, HEALTH HAZARDS, HEALTH IMPACTS, HOSPITAL ADMISSION, HUMAN HEALTH, HYPOTENSION, ILLITERACY, INHIBITION, INSECT PESTS, INSECTICIDES, INSECTS, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, IPM, LEUKEMIA, LUNG CANCER, MEDICAL RESEARCH, MORTALITY, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, PEST CONTROL, PEST CONTROL METHODS, PEST MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, PESTICIDE, PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS, PESTICIDE EXPOSURE, PESTICIDE HAZARDS, PESTICIDE MARKET, PESTICIDE MISUSE, PESTICIDE POISONING, PESTICIDE REGULATION, PESTICIDE USE, PESTICIDES, PHYSICIANS, PLANT PROTECTION, PRODUCE, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUPILS, RICE, RICE PRODUCTION, SCREENING, SKIN DISEASES, SOIL CONTAMINATION, SPRAYING, SUICIDE, TEA, UNEP, WORKERS, Microdata Set,
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2005/06/5843826/pesticide-poisoning-farm-workers-implications-blood-test-results-vietnam
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/8223
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