and Integrated Pest Management - part - usaid

PESTICIDE POISONING STUDIES AND DATA
COLLECTION IN MALAYSIA
N. M. T. Aros
Toxicologist, Pesticides Section, Department of Agriculture
Jalan Gallagher, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In Malaysia, the frequent and continuous use of pesticides has brought along
with it related problems such as declining efficacy and increasing tolerance
among target pests, which have in turn led to increased dosages and, in some
cases, more potent compounds to combat these pest problems. Associated with
the increased use of pesticides has been an increase in pesticide poisoning cases
detected in the country.
Prior to 1985, ao official at.tempt was made in Malaysia to study and record
cases of pesticide poisoning. However, figures on pesticide poisoning were
compiled by the Malaysian Department of Chemistry from poisoning cases
referred to them for analysis of the poison samples. The Ministry of Health,
through its hospitals, also kept records of poisoning but these were not officially
compiled. The records also did not strictly indicate poisoning from pesticides,
but rather, combined all cases of poisoning, whether from drugs, detergents,
pesticides or other chemicals.
The Pesticides Act of 1974, which was subsequently enforced in 1976,
created improved awareness among the Malaysian public of the dangers of
pesticide misuse. It also led to increased attention by the public and government
agencies on pesticide poisoning. Incidences of pesticide poisoning ;.hen began to
be reported with increasing frequency in the mass media. The Department of
Agriculture, which also services the Pesticides Board, was aware that the
increased usc of pesticides was beginning to nose a serious hazard to the health
and safety of those handling the chemicals. It was t1Ui prumitipd to make a
serious investigation into this matter, the methodology and results of which are
reported in this paper.
SURVEY ON PESTICIDE POISONING
A study was conducted in 1985 by the Department of Agriculture on the
pesticide poisoning situation in the country to determine the prevailing status of
pesticide usage through systematic information collection (Ramasamy & Aros
1986). The survey was conducted throughout Peninsular Malaysia by staff of
the Department. Respondents were classified into four main categories - rice
farmers, vegetable growers, smallholders, and estate workers. Interviews were
carried out using a standard form containing questions on the crops planted,
pesticides used, dosages, poisoning symptoms experienced, remedial action
taken, protective clothing worn, and so on.