Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

Age (years)
Table 1. Distribution of paraquat users by age and level of exposure.
Level of exposure
Low High
No. % No. %
5-9 4 1.2 1 0.4
10-14 16 4.9 6 2.2
15-24 120 36.8 87 31.4
25-34 82 25.2 76 27.4
35-44 50 15.3 50 18.1
45-54 29 8.9 35 12.6
55-59 13 4.0 13 4.7
60+ 12 3.7 9 3.2
Total 326 100 277 100
Of the 603 paraquat users surveyed, six were women; four in the 25-34 years
age group and two 35-44 years of age. One woman was in the high-exposure
group.
Commonly, 94.5% of the paraquat users applied the herbicide with sprayers;
98.4% used knapsack-type sprayers. Of these, 2.8% considered their spraying
equipment to be in poor condition, 21.4% in regular condition, and 75.8% in
good condition. However, 71.2% of the users reported that paraquat wet their
bodies during spraying. Generally, from the answers reported in the questionnaire,
the safety instructions provided by the producers or recommended by
international health agencies were not properly followed in Carmen de
Viboral.
Questions about present and previous exposure to dust, fumes, mists, gases,
or vapours revealed that 6.7% of the full-time workers were exposed to dust
in the workplace in the year preceding the study. One-third of these workers
were from the rural area.
Among those 10 years old and above, 21% were regular smokers, consuming
at least one cigarette every day for the past 5 years or more. Of all smokers,
80% had smoked for 5 years or more. Of the total population surveyed, 33.9%
of the men and 11.4% of the women were regular smokers.
When asked whether they had experienced illness during the 2 weeks before
the study, 17% of those interviewed gave positive replies. Of the problems
cited, 7.2% were related to the respiratory tract in both the rural and urban
areas. With regard to duration of illness, 62.5% had been ill for less than
15 days; 22.7% between 15 days and 3 months; and 10.1% for at least 1 year.
The major complaints associated with respiratory problems were coughing,
runny nose, fever, chills, phlegm, and dyspnea.
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