PERSONAL PROTECTION ACCESSORIES (PPA) AS A PRIMARY HEALTH SAFETY MEASURES IN PESTICIDE USE

Fruit growers from three districts of the Punjab took part in this study whereas their knowledge, attitude, skill and practices were evaluated regarding the use of pesticides. The hygiene and sanitation practices of the respondents were also related with proper use of PPA during pesticide spray which needs attitudinal changes along with the provision of better facilities and infrastructure. Demographic features of the fruit growers were evaluated regarding their age, qualification, marital status, source of income, smoking habits, farming size, fruit production and pesticide spraying experience. The ordinal regression model determined the significant relation among the qualification, spraying experience and land holding size with their level of knowledge and skill of using personal protection accessories (PPA). It is recommended that pesticide safety education and better skill be given to pesticide sprayers for the appropriate use of PPA.

[1]  A Spurgeon,et al.  The problems associated with pesticide use by irrigation workers in Ghana. , 1997, Occupational medicine.

[2]  Timo Partanen,et al.  Agricultural Pesticide Use in Developing Countries: Health Effects and Research Needs , 1997, International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation.

[3]  Y. Mekonnen,et al.  The health status of northern Omo State Farm workers exposed to chlorpyrifos and profenofos. , 1998, Ethiopian Medical Journal.

[4]  G. Ozolins,et al.  WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality. , 1984, WHO chronicle.

[5]  Eric R. Ziegel,et al.  Generalized Linear Models:Generalized Linear Models , 2002 .

[6]  Y Mekonnen,et al.  Pesticide sprayers' knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use on agricultural farms of Ethiopia. , 2002, Occupational medicine.

[7]  E. Alberman.  Primary Prevention of Mental, Neurological and Psychosocial Disorders. By World Health Organization. Geneva: World Health Organization. 1998, pp 113, US$31.50, Sw.fr. 35.00 (in developing countries: Sw.fr. 24.50). ISBN 92-4-154516X. , 2000 .

[8]  M. Yassin,et al.  Knowledge, attitude, practice, and toxicity symptoms associated with pesticide use among farm workers in the Gaza Strip , 2002, Occupational and environmental medicine.

[9]  D. Revitt,et al.  The influence of personal protection, environmental hygiene and exposure to pesticides on the health of immigrant farm workers in a desert country , 1999, International archives of occupational and environmental health.