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food and water, air pollution, and occupational exposure, also warrant
investigation.
Educating farmers in the safe and proper use and handling of pesticides must
be a research priority With education, concern for the chronic effects of
pesticide exposure of farmers and consumers should also be addressed. Other
areas where research is needed in the Philippines include:
KAP studies that can form the basis for education modules and
approaches;
Policy research to provide a basis for pesticide-policy decisions;
Technology development to address the issue of minimizing pesticide
exposure;
Protective clothing to safeguard the health of the farmer-user;
Investigation of the relation between pesticide-residue levels in fruits
and vegetables and farmers' crop-protection practices to determine
areas of intervention; and
Health economics of pesticide exposure to provide costbenefit analyses
for decision-makers.
In Thailand, the emphasis has been on exposure assessment in health- and
safety-related pesticide activities. Nevertheless, Thai scientists believe that
much remains to be done. Research needs in Thailand can been summarized
as follows.
Mitigation of risk
Exposure assessment, especially in crops where pesticide use is high
(cotton, vegetables, fruit trees, and rice);
a Equipment maintenance, including appropriate design, repair services,
and training.
Better identification and assessment of risk
Integration of epidemiologic information on dose-response and appropriate
control;
Consideration of reproductive effects, such as spermatogenesis, and
cardiac effects;
Standardization and improvement of cholinesterase measurements,
exposure-assessment protocols, etc.;
Technical assistance in the identification of pesticide metabolites in
blood and urine;
Improve existing data-handling systems to accommodate community
data and accurately define mortality and morbidity due to pesticides.
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