Chemical risk in agriculture: the organophosphorus pesticides and effects on worker health

Background: The use of pesticides in agriculture is justified by the need to increase crop production and reduce the incidence of diseases sometimes very serious as malaria, yellow fever or bubonic plague. But behind the use of these substances lies the risk of occupational diseases confirmed by studies that focus primarily on specific types of substances. Objectives: The authors, from a premise epidemiological chemical risk arising from the findings of positive cases in the province of Rome by the Lazio Regional Environmental Protection (ARPALazio), conduct a study of health effects resulting from the workers exposure to organophosphorus insecticides. Methods: Were analyzed 199 samples fruit in 2008 and 203 in 2009 as follows: 12.68% apples, 11.69 % pears, 12.93% peaches, 6.46% grapes, 5.72% strawberries, 22.13 % citrus, 7.96% exotic fruits, etc. Results: Despite a substantial decrease in the number of samples of fruit with no pesticide residue (72.36% in 2008 and 65.51% in 2009), concern the number of samples with at least one pesticide residue (21.10% in 2008 and 22.6% the following year), but especially those with two or more pesticide residues than in a period of 12 months has more than tripled (3.01% in 2008 and 9.85% in 2009). Discussion and Conclusions: The epidemiology of the phenomenon of pesticide use in agriculture must be seen not only in terms of consumers, but in view of an occupational hazard among farmers. A type of chemicals most frequently encountered, especially in the cultivation of peaches, citrus, grapes and strawberries are Dimethoate and Chlorpyrifos, insecticides, in the category of organo-phosphate, with a dangerous neurotoxic activity.