Epidemiological Studies in Women Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides in Cotton Fields of Parkal, Warangal District

ABSTRACT

The world health organization has been recommending increased efforts to generate data on individuals with different occupational exposures. The Human exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals has increased considerably in past 55 years. Pesticised are among the most produced and used chemicals all over the globe. Pesticides constitute a heterogeneous category of chemicals specifically designed for the control of pests, weeds or plant diseases. Exposure to pesticides at any point in the life cycle has the potential for causing a range of short term health problems. The risk and severity of adverse health effects from pesticide exposure varies  significantly depending on many factors including individual characteristics such as age and health status, duration of exposure etc,. The women workers working in the agricultural fields form a high risk group as the main crops are Paddy, Cotton and Chillies are grown in ParkalMandal, Warangal District.  The present study consists of 100 pesticide women workers and 100 controls with no exposure of pesticides. The epidemiological data was collected from the exposed and control groups using a standard questionnaire. The results showed an increased incidence of health problems and impaired reproductive performance in women occupationally exposed to pesticides when compared to controls, which might be due to the prolonged exposure of workers to pesticides in the cotton fields.

Keywords: Pesticides, Health problems, Reproductive performance.

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