Wong, Hie Ling and Brown, Colin David orcid.org/0000-0001-7291-0407 (2021) Assessment of occupational exposure to pesticides applied in rice fields in developing countries: a critical review. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. pp. 499-520. ISSN 1735-1472
Abstract
Rice is a globally-significant staple cereal for which cultivation is concentrated in developing countries and, to a large extent, in smallholder farms. There is significant potential for operator exposure to pesticides during such rice production, but research to date is fragmented. This review evaluates methods and outcomes of studies to quantify pesticide exposure amongst rice growers in developing countries. Knapsack sprayers are used very frequently in rice cultivation, but existing exposure estimation methods lack the functionality to generate robust estimates of exposure. Direct measurement methods have been applied in a range of developing countries to measure dermal contact and/or respiratory inhalation during pesticide handling activities, and these have sometimes been coupled with biological monitoring for exposure. Only a few studies have collected contextual information in parallel with exposure assessment, using interviews or questionnaires to capture information on agricultural practices and personal protective measures. There is general agreement that dermal exposure is likely to be larger than inhalation exposure, with dermal contact exacerbated by risk factors including crop structure, maintenance status of equipment, and use of any personal protective equipment. There is frequent use within the reviewed studies of pesticide active substances that have been restricted in other parts of the world. Overall, there is an urgent need for more systematic studies to address gaps in knowledge and improve exposure estimates for use in health analysis and risk assessment.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Part of Springer Nature. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 30 Jun 2020 15:20 |
Last Modified: | 02 Apr 2025 23:18 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02834-6 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s13762-020-02834-6 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:162616 |
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