Use of pesticides in the agriculture sector poses a serious environmental and public health problem. The relationship between the extent of pesticide-use and signs and symptoms of illnesses due to exposure among farmers of Thanjavur District (South India) was assessed. 631 farmers were interviewed using pre-tested interview questionnaires during a cross sectional survey (537 men and 94 women). 433 (68.6%) farmers (of whom 4 were women) sprayed pesticides by themselves and therefore were directly exposed to pesticides. More than 75% of farmers used either \"moderately\" or \"highly hazardous\" pesticides . 88% did not use any form of protection, while handling pesticides. About 50% of sprayers mixed different brands of pesticides, many of which were substitutable to each other.
Use of pesticides & its impact on human health: a case of farmers in South India
by Chitra Grace,V.R. Muraleedharan, T. Swaminathan, Veeraraghavan, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Indian Institute of Technology, 01 January, 2008