A study of workers in pesticide formulating plants/ industries in Nairobi and the surrounding areas
Abstract
Pesticides are used by farmers for purposes of
gaining the most out of their land in terms of higher
productivity and higher profits. They are also used by
man to control disease vectors. The use of pesticides
worldwide has been increasing rapidly due to the
need to feed a bigger world population and also increased
use in vector control. Most pesticides are not selective
and are capable of harming both the target pests and other
species as well. Pesticides can be harmful to man at any
stage of contact beginning from the manufacturing stage,
transportation, application and later, as residues in
food and water.
The study was done to evaluate the possible effects
of pesticides on workers in the pesticide industries and
the safety measures used against contamination and poisoning
both by the management of the industries and the workers.
The study was done between November 1988 and April
1989 and was carried out in Nairobi and its surroundings.
The research was descriptive in nature and was carried out
by interviewing the workers and by observations.
The results were recorded on a pre-tested questionnaire
and analysis was by computer.
There were eight factories visited with a total of
91 workers interviewed. The results showed that the
pesticide industry in this country is mainly male dominated
with only 16% of the workers being female. Most of the
workers interviewed had a low level of education and no
institutional training. Most of the industries provided
the workers with some form of protective clothing although
medical supervision was not done by some of the industries.
Of the workers interviewed, 34% had sought medical
assistance for the complaints related to the pesticides
they handled while 12% had b~en hospitalized. The workers
had medical complaints related to the skin, the respiratory
tract, the central nervous system and the gastro-intestinal
tract. 79% of the workers got at least one medical ch~ck-up
per year while 80% had their blood tested for activity of
the enzyme acetyl cholinesterase.
The recommendations made are applicable to the
pesticide formulators/manufacturers/distributors, the
factory inspectorate and the pest control board.
Citation
Masters of Public HealthPublisher
University of Nairobi School of Public Health