Abstract

Migrant farm workers are exposed tooccupational hazards in terms of exposure to pesticidescontaining organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CM). Incases of mishandling of a pesticide, workers may be exposed tohigher amounts of such toxic particles. Our study involvedassessing factors related to respiratory disorders, includingevidence of impaired lung function and respiratory systemdisorder symptoms (RSDS), in 274 migrant farm workers inEastern Thailand. The experimental procedure involvedinterviews, as well as serum cholinesterase (SChE) and lungfunction assessments using a reactive paper blood test andspirometry, respectively. A multiple logistic regression analysisof independent variables and RSDS revealed an odds ratio (OR,95% CI) of 2.787 (1.210, 6.470) in female subjects. Consumptionof >4 glasses of alcohol/week and exposure to dust for >4 h/daywere associated with an OR (95% CI) of 4.675 (1.395, 15.671)and 2.743 (1.238, 6.093), respectively. The multiple linearregression analysis of independent variables indicated that theSChE level, gender, age, and carrying of a sprayer wereassociated with as determined from the forced vital capacity (R= 0.579, R2 = 0.34; p < 0.05) and additionally associated with theforced expired volume in one second (R = 0.562, R2 = 0.315; p <0.05). The assessment of respiratory system disorders isnecessary for female farm workers who consume >3 glasses ofalcohol/week, are older in age, and perform tasks that involvecarrying a sprayer. Moreover, the SChE level should beroutinely screened to monitor the health of migrant workers.