Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and Its Effects on Health Status of Workers in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Pesticides are a large and diverse group of chemicals used to kill and eradicate rodents, fungi, insects, and weeds. The present study was designed to check the effect of pesticides on liver as well as kidney function of the workers engaged in occupations in which there is persistent exposure to pesticides, (dealers, gardeners and owners of gardens), and to check the prevalence of hepatitis in these workers indistrict Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected and history was taken from different groups of individuals exposed to pesticides. Four groups were made, owners, gardeners, dealers and control, which had approximately same age and were engaged in this field for an average of 8 years. A significant decrease in hemoglobin concentration was noticed in all the exposed groups. The level of glutamate pyruvate transaminase, uric acid, bilirubin (direct and total) and calcium was high among exposed groups compared to control. The prevalence of both hepatitis B and C was also high in exposed groups. Pesticides significantly affected the hemoglobin level, and altered liver and kidney functions. The same study may be preceded to other biochemical and hematological parameters considering a large number of exposed persons.