Acute Health Effects Associated with Nonoccupational Pesticide Exposure in Rural El Salvador,

Little is known about the health effects of nonoccupational pesticide exposure in agricultural communities of poor countries. Therefore, this study investigated acute symptoms associated with nonoccupational exposure to organophosphate insecticides (OPs) in rural El Salvador, a region known for intensive pesticide use. In the five communities studied, 2-week prevalences of several acute symptoms were associated with living with a farmer who had recently applied methyl parathion. These included cramps in limbs (odds ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.2–3.7), chest pressure (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.0), change in defecation (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.1), feeling dazed (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.4), and eyes tearing (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.5). Associations were found regardless of whether the individuals reporting the symptoms had themselves performed field labor. These results suggest that living in areas where pesticides are used on crops may represent an environmental health concern, especially for children.