self –monitoring of sign and symptoms of pesticide...

1

Self –monitoring of Sign and Symptoms of Pesticide

Poisoning by farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides

Report of a study conducted by Vikalpani Women’s Federation

co-sponsored by PANAP and Global Green grant Fund

Vikalpani Women’s Federation

No.117

Talahena

Malabe

Sri Lanka

2

The Back Ground

For over a quarter century the Community Education Center has been working

“Towards alternatives” with programmes geared to protect nature and to better

people’s lives through enhancing knowledge. Since the first meeting between Anita

Fernando chairperson of CEC and Sarojini Rengam, Director, Pesticide Action

Network (Asia and Pacific) in 1994, their work expanded with a broader vision and

determination to make the world a better and healthier place for everyone. The

responsibility of this grave task was assigned to the Vikalpani National Women’s

Federation, which branched out from CEC, in 2001.

Chemical pesticides, which took over the traditional environment –friendly pest

control methods since the Green Revolution, has become a part and parcel of the

farming community in the world and Sri Lanka is no exception. The pesticide and

pharmaceutical industries thrived with ever increasing profits at the expense of poorer

farmers, unhealthy people and polluted environment. Although the level of toxicity

varies, Pesticides are poisons and harm intentionally or unintentionally, all organisms

that come into contact with them. Duped by attractive advertisements and being

unaware of the danger involved, farmers throughout the world continue to use more

and more pesticides. There is no escape from the vicious circle, which begins the

moment one purchases the first bottle of pesticide. Every year there are reports of

many farmers who end their lives burdened with heavy debts by drinking pesticides,

which are supposed to word off pests.

Concerned about the health of women in farming communities who directly come into

contact with pesticides constantly, inside and outside their humble abodes, PANAP

sponsored a survey. On women and Pesticides, which was carried out by CEC in

several parts of the island, in 1995. The findings of this survey involving 506 women

shocked CEC and they started conducting more awareness programmes on the hazard

of pesticides. Chandra Hewagallage, who co-ordinated the women’s activities,

underwent special training on all aspects of pesticides. One such workshop organized

by FAO conducted by Dr. Helen Murphy, medical Epidemiologist and health advisor

3

in 2000, paved the way for this year –long study on self –monitoring of signs and

symptoms of pesticide poisoning among farmers who spray pesticides.

Similar studies have been conducted in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam

too.

Introduction

Sri Lanka is an Agricultural Country where the majority of the population does crop

cultivation as their main occupation. The main constrain of crop cultivation is

controlling pests & diseases, for which most farmers use chemical methods as it is

Easy, Quick & Efficient. But they do not think about the risk that they face during

mixing & application of pesticides.

On one hand people feel short-term acute poisoning signs & symptoms after spraying

of Pesticides, but they do not take that serious unless it is a threat to their normal life

style. On the other hand there is no occupational health history recording procedure in

Sri Lanka and hence connection between clinical signs and effect pesticides is missed.

If they feel serious they are admitted to the hospital & those cases are the only

available records of health problems due to Pesticides, but these records shows only

about 5 % of the acute poisoning cases, so most of the acute poisoning cases are not

recorded. The farmers are continuously exposed to the Pesticides, as farming is the

only option they have for a living. Although they neglect the signs & symptoms,

which are not serious at the moment, accumulation of those effects could lead to

chronic effects on them later.

With this background a study was done to find out all the acute Poisoning signs &

symptoms, which could be noticed by the operator after the spraying of Pesticides.

Farmers were advised to take care to get all the precautions in safety aspects. (Use of

face mask, hat, Clothes to cover all the body, not to use leaking spray tanks, not to eat,

drink or smoke while spraying etc.) However of the farmers did not seem to have

follow these instructions and they have sprayed on the way that they are normally

4

doing. The reasons for this may be protective clothing are uncomfortable in hot

climate and uneasy to use.

The results showed that 23.6% of the farmers, who were used in the study, did not

have any effect to be recorded after the spraying of pesticides.

Dr. Murphy had classified thirty signs & symptoms in to three categories according to

the seriousness and it is given in the Table Number 1.

Those categories are Mild (1), moderate (2) & serious (3).

Table 1: Classification of signs and Symptoms into Categories

Serial No Sign or Symptom Category 1 Dizziness 1 2 Seizure 3 3 Loss of consciousness 3 4 Vomiting 2 5 Sore throat 1 6 Cough 1 7 Chest pain/ burning/tightness 2 8 Nausea 2 9 Stomach cramps 2 10 Numbness 1 11 Diarrhoea 2 12 Itchy skin 1 13 Sweating 1 14 Staggering gait 2 15 Skin rash/dryness/crack/scales 1 16 Muscle cramps 2 17 Tremor 2 18 Muscle weakness 1 19 Shortness of breath 1 20 Headache 1 21 Exhaustion 1 22 Burning nose 1 23 Blurred vision 2 24 Twitching eye lids 2 25 Insomnia 1 26 Red eyes 1 27 Burning eyes 1 28 Excessive tearing 1 29 Runny nose 1 30 Excessive salivation 1

5

There were only two symptoms in the serious category. They were Seizure & Loss of

consciousness. 20 farmers throughout the study had reported that had felt the

symptoms in this category. This was reported in Monaragala Sevenagala, Kkirawa

and Kanthle they had felt these symptoms after spraying Tamaron (monocrotophos)

which is a WHO class I pesticide and (Malathion, Paraquat and Carbofuran)

Tamaron and Malathion banned in Sri Lanka, it is necessary to find out how

they come to the market. Most of the farmers had felt only mild symptoms.

(52.5%)

Materials & Method

This study was conducted using the voluntary members in the partner organizations of

the “Community Education Center” over a period of one year. 22 members were

trained to conduct the study by the help of Dr. Helen Murphy facilitated by

S.N.Lasantha Rathnaweera Research officer and Subhash S. Rathnaweera Agriculture

officer two officers from the Department of Agriculture. This was a “training of

trainers” session of Five days, which included the following subjects.

Identification of farmers for the study

Identification of Signs & symptoms correctly

Method of training them for the study

Method of recording the signs & symptoms

Method of entering the data in special sheets provided.

After the training, volunteers went to their destinations & selected the farmers who

are spraying pesticides, for the study. The selected numbers of farmers from each Site,

Partner organization of CEC who did the study are given in the table 2. There was no

special reason other than the destination of the Partner organizations, to select these

areas, but the majority of population of these areas is farmers.

6

Table 2 : Number of Farmers selected for the study from each site

Site Part organization who do the servay Number of

Farmers

Moneragala Community Resources Protection Center 59

Wellavaya Uva Wellassa Farmer Women’s Organization 33

Thanthirimale Vanni community Development Foundation 21

Kantale Eastern United Women’s organization 42

Sevanagala Human Resources Youth Guild 41

Kekirawa Rajarata Jana Prbodhani Foundation 23

Total 219

The farmers were given one-day training by the volunteers to identify the acute signs

and symptoms. Most signs are common & therefore it was necessary to identify &

decide whether the effects are actually due to pesticide exposure. The farmers were

given a format to mark the signs & symptoms that they felt within 24 hours after each

spray session. Those formats were collected & data were entered by the trainers in to

the special sheets developed by the two officers of DOA, which could facilitate the

data entry in to the computer for analysis. These sheets were sent to the CEC head

office at Malabe. A data entry operator Inoka Udayangani Samaranayake entered data

to the computer for analysis and the findings one as follows are reported here.

This sheet contained Name, address, Gender of the application, Date of application,

Number of Tanks, Number of hours sprayed, Crops, Volume of the tank, name of the

pesticide and the all Signs/Symptoms marked in a schematic diagram farmers had

only to fill the relevant information and mark the Signs/Symptoms that they feed

within 24 hours after application of pesticides.

8

Results

1. Monaragala

The study was performed by the members of the Community Resources

Protection Center in the area. They have selected 59 farmers for the study out of

which 9 were female. The farmers had used 23 types of pesticides as well as

pesticides mixtures in a single tank. 15 spray sessions were pesticides mixtures.

Farmers had used chlorpyrifos in 165 sessions, which is the highest number in the

Monaragala area in this study. Pesticides used are given in Figure Mo.1

Monocrotophos (Tamaron) had been used in 16 spray sessions. This WHO

class I pesticide is banned in Sri Lanka since 1995. Therefore further

investigation should be carried out to find out how this pesticide has gone to

the farmer

Figure Mo.1 - Pesticides used by the farmers in Monaragala area in the study

1634

22

6851

184

29 28 31

2 3 4 9 5 2 3 717 8 1 6 15

165

020406080

100120140160180

tam

aron

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Pesticides

9

Out of 548 spray sessions 364 are Insecticides, 139 are Fungicides, 31 are Weedicides

and 14 are other category. These are shown in Figure Mo.2

Figure Mo.2 - Percentages of each category of Pesticides used in Monaragala area

Insecticides66 %

Weedicides6 %

Fungicides25 %

Others3 %

In 365 sessions they have had mild effects, in 152 sessions moderate effects, in 85

sessions no effect and 13 sessions severe effects. Figure Mo.3 illustrate these

results graphically.

13.82

59.35

24.72

2.11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

No effect Mild effect Moderateeffect

Severe effect

Effects

Figure Mo.3 - Percentages of effect categories in Monaragala area

10

The total number of signs/symptoms observed in Monaragala area in this study is

1783. Headache has been observed in 323 times followed by sweating, sore throat

and exhaustion. Total signs/symptoms observed are given in Figure Mo.4

Figure Mo.4 - Total Signs/Symptoms observed in Monaragala area

170

99 93 92 86 81 77 7137 36 34 26 20 20 18 17 17 16 15 10 8 8 7 5 4 0

323

153

128144

050

100150200250300350

Heada

che

Sweatin

g

Sore

thro

at

Exhau

stio

n

Exces

sive

saliv

atio

n

Itchy

skin

Inso

mni

aDizz

ines

sRed

eye

sCou

gh

Burni

ng n

ose

Burni

ng e

yes

Blurre

d vis

ion

Shortn

ess

of b

reat

h

Numbn

ess

Exces

sive

tear

ing

Nause

a

Stagg

erin

g ga

it

Mus

cle c

ram

psTr

emor

Runny

nos

e

Mus

cle w

eakn

ess

Twitc

hing

eye

lids

Vomitin

g

Chest

pai

n/bu

rnin

g/tig

...

Loss

of c

onsc

ious

ness

Stom

ach

cram

psSei

zure

Skin ra

sh/d

ryne

ss/c

ra...

Diarrh

oea

Pesticides

2. Wellawaya

The study was performed by the members of the Uva Wellassa Farmer Women’s

Organization in the area. They have selected 33 farmers for the study. The farmers

had used 29 types of pesticides Farmers had used Tebuconazole in 77 sessions,

which is the highest number in the Wellawaya area in this study. Pesticides used

are given in Figure We.1

11

Figure We.1 - Pesticides used by the farmers in Wellawaya area

4755

41

30

6 7

22

77

20

4

23

4 28 4 6 4

24

111

6

18

5 2 1

15

1 2 20

102030405060708090

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Out of 401 spray sessions 247 are insecticides, 78 are Fungicides, 21 are Weedicides,

and 55 are other category. These are shown in Figure We.2

Figure We. 2-- Percentages of each category of Pesticides used in Wellawaya area

Insecticides62 %

Fungicides19 %

Weedicides5 %

Others14 %

12


sessions no effect severe effects and 12 sessions severe effects. Figure We.3 illustrate

these results graphically.

36.47

45.41

15.22

2.90

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

No effect Mild effect Moderate effect Severe effect

Effects

Figure We.3 - Percentages of effect catogory in Wellawaya area

The total number of signs/symptoms observed in Wellwaya area in this study is 847.

Dizziness has been observed in 164 times followed by headache, red eyes and burning

eyes. Total signs/symptoms observed are given in Figure We.4

Figure We.4 - Total Signs/Symptoms observed in Wellawaya area

164149

67 61 59 51 44 43 38 29 25 25 19 18 10 8 7 7 6 5 5 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 00

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Dizzine

ss

Heada

che

Red e

yes

Burnin

g ey

es

Exhau

stion

Itchy

skin

Skin ra

sh/d

ryne

ss/cr

ack/s

cales

Blurre

d vis

ion

Shortn

ess o

f bre

ath

Twitchin

g ey

elids

Trem

or

Burnin

g no

se

Numbn

ess

Inso

mnia

Mus

cle w

eakn

ess

Seizur

e

Stagg

ering

gait

Exces

sive

tear

ing

Loss

of c

onsc

iousn

ess

Stom

ach

cram

ps

Mus

cle cr

amps

Runny

nos

e

Sore

thro

at

Exces

sive

saliv

ation

Vomitin

g

Cough

Chest

pain/

burn

ing/tig

htne

ss

Nause

a

Diarrh

oea

Sweatin

g

13

3. Thanthirimale

The study was performed by the members of the Vanni Community Development

Foundation in the area. They have selected 21 farmers for the study. The farmers

had used 18 types of pesticides and dimethoate in 40 sessions, which is the highest

number in the Thanthirimale area in this study. Pesticides used are given in

Figure Th.1

Figure Th.1 - Pesticides Used by the farmers in Thanthirimale area in the study

14

40

1810

1 3 1 2

15

3 610

2

11

2 3 2 4

05

1015202530354045

chlo

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Pesticides


and 4 are other category. These are shown in Figure Th-2

Figure Th.2 - Percentages of each category of Pesticides Used in Thanthirimale area

Others3 %

Fungicides 2 %

Weedicides20 %

Insecticides 75 %

14


sessions no effect severe effect and 7 sessions severe effects. Figure Th.3 illustrate

these results in a graphically.

1.20

67.66

26.95

4.19

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70


Severe effect

Effects

Figure Th.3 - Percentages of effect categories in Thantirimale area

The total number of signs/symptoms observed in Thanthirimale area in this study is

558. Sweating has been observed in 117 times followed by headache, Insomnia and

exhaustion. Total signs/symptoms observed are given in Figure Th.4

Figure Th.4 - Total signs/Symptoms observed in Thanthirimale area

117

7159 56

44 37 3020 18 16 15 15 11 10 10 10 9 9 8 7 6 4 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Sweatin

g

Heada

che

Inso

mnia

Exhau

stion

Red e

yes

Burnin

g ey

es

Sore

thro

at

Exces

sive

saliv

ation

Mus

cle cr

amps

Nause

a

Dizzine

ss

Shortn

ess o

f bre

ath

Exces

sive

tear

ing

Mus

cle w

eakn

ess

Burnin

g no

se

Diarrh

oea

Cough

Runny

nos

e

Stagg

ering

gait

Blurre

d vis

ion

Twitchin

g ey

elids

Seizur

e

Stom

ach

cram

ps

Loss

of c

onsc

iousn

ess

Itchy

skin

Chest

pain/

burn

ing/tig

htne

ss

Numbn

ess

Vomitin

g

Skin ra

sh/d

ryne

ss/cr

ack/s

cales

Trem

or

Symptoms

15

4. Kanthale

The study was performed by the members of the Eastern United Women’s

organization in the area. They have selected 42 farmers for the study, out of which

5 were female. The farmers had used 26 types of pesticides and I pesticides

mixture in a single tank. Farmers had used chlorpyrifos in 22 sessions, which is

the highest number in the Kanthale area in this study. Pesticides used are given in

Figure Ka.1

Figure Ka.1 - Pesticides used by the farmers in Kanthale area in the study

22

6

1 25 4

2 1

17

10

25

10 9

20

2 1 25

13

1 1

63

1 1

0

5

10

15

20

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chlo

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Man

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carb

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Pesticides


and 4 are other category. These are shown in Figure Ka.2

Figure Ka.2 - Percentages of each category of Pesticides used in Kanthale area

Insecticides 63 %Weedicides

21 %

Fungicides 13 %

Others 3 %

16


sessions no effect severe effects and 11 sessions severe effects. Figure Ka.3 illustrate

these results in a graphically.

14.29

58.93

20.24

6.55

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


Severe effect

Effects

Figure Ka.3 - Percentages of effect category in Kanthale area

The total number of signs/symptoms observed in Kanthale area in this study is 255.

Exhaustion has been observed in 56 times followed by headache, dizziness and

sweating. Total signs/symptoms observed are given in Figure Ka.4

Figure Ka.4 - Total signs/Symptoms observed in Kanthale area

5645 43

16 12 10 9 9 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 00

10

20

30

40

50

60

Exhau

stion

Heada

che

Dizzine

ss

Sweatin

g

Chest

pain/

burn

ing/tig

htne

ss

Mus

cle cr

amps

Sore

thro

at

Burnin

g ey

es

Red e

yes

Seizur

e

Burnin

g no

se

Blurre

d vis

ion

Inso

mnia

Loss

of c

onsc

iousn

ess

Stom

ach

cram

ps

Itchy

skin

Stagg

ering

gait

Cough

Exces

sive

saliv

ation

Diarrh

oea

Vomitin

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Nause

a

Shortn

ess o

f bre

ath

Runny

nos

e

Numbn

ess

Skin ra

sh/d

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...

Trem

or

Mus

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ess

Twitchin

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Exces

sive

tear

ing

Symptoms

17

5. Sevanagala The study was performed by the members of the Human resources youth association

in the area. They have selected 41 farmers for the study. Out of which 2 were female.

The farmers had used 24 types of pesticides. Farmers had used Paraquat in 30

sessions, which is the highest number in the Sevanagala area in this study. Pesticides

used are given in Figure Se.1

Figure Se.1 - Pesticides used by the farmers in Sevanagala area in the study

68

6

1

6 5

30

17

23

1

64 3

15

12

1 1

15

22

12

2 220

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

chlo

rpyr

ifos

dim

etho

ate

fent

hion

Man

coze

b

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prop

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met

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Mal

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Per

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and 19 are other category. These are shown in Figure Se.2

Figure Se.2 - Percentages of each category of Pesticides used in Sevanagala area

Others 10 %Fungicides

4 %Weedicides

26 %

Insecticides60 %

18


sessions no effect and severe effects has not been reported. Figure Se.3 illustrate these

results in a graphical way.

No effect Mild effect

Moderateeffect Severe effect

14.06

47.92

38.02

0.000

10

20

30

40

50

Effects

Figure Se.3 - Percentages of effect category in Sevanagala area

The total number of signs/symptoms observed in Sevanagale area in this study is 556.

Exhaustion has been observed in 60 times followed by headache, dizziness and

Burning eyes. Total signs/symptoms observed are given in Figure Se.4

Figure Se.4 - Total signs/Symptoms observed in Sevanagala area

60 59 55

4234 32

22 21 21 20 19 17 17 14 13 12 12 11 11 8 8 6 3 3 3 1 0 0

1616

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Exhau

stion

Heada

che

Dizzine

ss

Burnin

g ey

es

Itchy

skin

Red e

yes

Burnin

g no

se

Sore

thro

at

Mus

cle cr

amps

Mus

cle w

eakn

ess

Inso

mnia

Sweatin

g

Exces

sive

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ation

Blurre

d vis

ion

Twitchin

g ey

elids

Trem

or

Cough

Shortn

ess o

f bre

ath

Runny

nos

e

Stom

ach

cram

ps

Exces

sive

tear

ing

Numbn

ess

Skin ra

sh/d

ryne

ss/cr

ack/.

..

Stagg

ering

gait

Vomitin

g

Chest

pain/

burn

ing/tig

htne

ss

Nause

a

Diarrh

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Seizur

e

Loss

of c

onsc

iousn

ess

19

6. Kekirawa

The study was performed by the members of the Rajarata Jana Prbodhani Foundation

in the area. They have selected 23 farmers for the study. The farmers had used 18

types of pesticides. Farmers had used bispyribac sodium in 17 sessions, which is the

highest number in the Kekirawa area in this study. Pesticides used are given in Figure

Ke.1

Figure Ke.1 - Pesticides used by the farmers in Kekirawa area in the study

15

9

43

13

10

3

16

2

17

31 1

4

1

5

1 1

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Pesticides

Out of 97 spray sessions 44 are insecticides, 5 are Fungicides, 47 are Weedicides, and

1 are other category. These are shown in Figure Ke.2

Figure Ke.2 - Percentages of each category of Pesticides used in Kekirawa area

Others 1 %

Fungicides 5 %

Insecticides 45 %

Weedicides49 %

20


sessions no effect and 32 sessions severe effects. Figure Ke.3 illustrate these

results in a graphically.

29.0326.45

23.8720.65

0

5

10

15

20

25

30


Severe effect

Effects

Figure Ke.3 - Percentages of effect category in Kekirawa area

The total number of signs/symptoms observed in Kekirawa area in this study is 270.

Exhaustion has been observed in 23 times followed by headache, sore throat and

sweating. Total signs/symptoms observed are given in Figure Ke.4

Figure Ke.4 - Total signs/Symptoms observed in Kekirawa area

2320 19 18 17 17

13 12 11 10 9 97 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 1

1613

0

5

10

15

20

25

Exhau

stion

Seizur

e

Heada

che

Sore

thro

at

Sweatin

g

Red e

yes

Burnin

g ey

es

Inso

mnia

Exces

sive

saliv

ation

Loss

of c

onsc

iousn

ess

Dizzine

ss

Itchy

skin

Chest

pain/

burn

ing/tig

htne

ss

Burnin

g no

se

Diarrh

oea

Numbn

ess

Shortn

ess o

f bre

ath

Nause

a

Blurre

d vis

ion

Mus

cle cr

amps

Cough

Stagg

ering

gait

Vomitin

g

Mus

cle w

eakn

ess

Twitchin

g ey

elids

Runny

nos

e

Exces

sive

tear

ing

Skin ra

sh/d

ryne

ss/cr

ack/s

cales

Trem

or

Stom

ach

cram

ps

Symptoms

21

7. Overall Results

Table Number 3 shows the number of spray sessions in each category in each site.

Percentages are given in parentheses. Maximum number of effects was found in mild

category that is 52.5%. Next highest is no effect category that is 23.6%. Moderate

effect category shows 19.5% and severe effects have been recorded in only 4.4%

sessions out of 1711 sessions through out the whole study. According to these results

majority of farmers have experienced mild effects after spraying of pesticides.

Figure 1 shows these results in a graphical diagram.

Table 3: Number of Spray sessions in each category

Site No effect Mild

effect

Moderate

effect

Severe

effect

Total

Moneragala 85 (13.8) 365 (59.3) 152 (24.7) 13(2.1) 615

Wellavaya 151 (36.5) 188 (45.4) 63 (15.2) 12(2.9) 414

Thanthirimale 2 (1.2) 113 (67.7) 45 (26.9) 7 (4.2) 167

Kantale 24 (14.3) 99 (58.9) 34 (20.2) 11 (6.5) 168

Sevanagala 27 (14.1) 92 (47.9) 73 (38.0) 0 (0) 192

Kekirawa 45 (29.0) 41 (26.5) 37 (23.9) 32 (20.6) 155

Total 334 (19.5) 898 (52.5) 404 (23.6) 75 (4.4) 1711

22

Figure 1 : Percentages of effect categories in overall study

19.5%

52.5%

23.6%

4.4%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

No effect Mild effect Moderate effect Severe effect

Effects

Overall Effects

The pesticides used by the farmers & their category (Insecticides –I, Fungicides –F,

Weedicides –W, Other-O) are given in table 4. Number of Pesticides used by the

farmers in this study is 47. Out of these 25 are insecticides, 8 are Fungicides, 7 are

Weedicides and 7 are other category.

23

Table 4 : Pesticides sprayed by the farmers and their categories

Pesticide Category Pesticide Category

chlorpyrifos I prothiofos I dimethoate I fenvalerate O fenthion I methomyl O Mancozeb F acetamaprid I etofenprox I tebufenozide O MCPA W thiodicarb I propanil W carbaryl I sulfur I tridemorph O propineb F edifenphos O maneb F benomyl I coc F acephate I tebuconazole F oxadiazon W paraquat W fenobucarb I imidacloprid I carbendazim F carbosulfan I diazinon I quinalphos I carbofuran F bispyribac sodium W malathion I glyphosate W permethrin I phenthoate I fipronil I captan F esfenvalerate I profenofos I monocrotophos I chlofluazuron O Mixtures I pyrimiphos methyl I deltamethrin O fenoxaprop-p-ethyl W

24

Figure 2 shows break down of pesticides used in the whole study. Out of 1711

spray sessions 952 were Insecticides, 249 were Fungicides, 204 were Weedicides

and 98 were other pesticides. These results indicate that insecticides were used in

the highest number of spray sessions seconded by fungicides in this study.

Figure 2:

The above overall results were obtained from the collective data of six sites

Percentages of each category of Pesticides used through out the study

Others 6.5%

Weedicides 13.5%Fungicides

16.6% Insecticides 63.4%

25

Conclusions Following conclusions could be obtained from the result of this study

The majority of the farmers (52.5%) spraying pesticides feel mild acute

poisoning Signs/Symptoms within 24 hours after pesticide application.

Considerate amount of farmers (19.5%) do not feel any active poisoning

Signs/Symptoms after application of pesticides.

Very small amount of farmers (4.4%) felt l active poisoning Signs /Symptoms.

26

Recommendation

Action must be taken to remove from market all banned pesticides in Sri Lanka.

self –monitoring of sign and symptoms of pesticide...

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