Pesticide Application and Occupational Health Risks Among Farm Workers in Kerala-An Analysis Using Dose Response Function

According to World Health Organization estimates, pesticides cause 30,00,000 cases of poisoning and 2,20,000 deaths annually across the globe, the majority of which are reported from developing countries. These numbers, even more alarmingly, show a rising trend (WHO, 1990, Down to Earth, 2001; Rosenstock, et al. 1991; Pimental, 1992; Kishi, et al., 1995; WRI, 1998). While indiscriminate use and unscientific handling of toxic chemicals are very common, the extent, severity and frequency of associated health problems are often unknown. Pesticide-related health damages are difficult to identify, particularly in developing countries, because of the inherent problems of poverty, inadequate health care facilities, poor training support to health-care personnel, and unsatisfactory access to the health care system. Furthermore, the major victims are the most vulnerable sections of the population. The farm workers, small and marginal farmers and women, who are the most exposed owing to occupational factors, neglect the health hazards of pesticide exposure due to either lack of awareness and/or due to financial reasons. There have been attempts on a limited scale in some developing countries to evaluate the health damage due to pesticide exposure (Jeyaretnam, 1990; Ngowi, 2002; Wilson, 2002). But such studies are rarely seen reported from India where the use of pesticides in agriculture has been very common and unscientific. Often the economic impact of pesticide use in agriculture is projected as positive, as it does not consider the externalities associated with its use. This study tries to quantify the occupational health risks due to pesticides exposure among farm workers and assess the health costs associated. The estimation is based on the self reported morbidity effects and is expected to provide an estimate of negative externalities related to human health.