Comparison between the occupational exposures of paddy farmers to pesticide applied in granary and outside granary areas

The study investigates major differences of pesticide exposures between paddy farmers in granary and outside granary areas in Kelantan, using survey data collected in Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah as case studies, respectively. A total of 11 farmers were analyzed for their exposure to pesticides using the exposure algorithms from the Generic Risk Assessment Model for Indoor and Outdoor Space Spraying of Insecticides developed by the World Health Organization. The predicted exposures were assessed against the Acceptable Agricultural Operator Levels (AOEL). Overall, the predicted daily exposures of single active substances that exceeded the respective AOELs were higher in Tanah Merah compared to Pasir Mas, mainly due to the higher number of pesticide applications in Tanah Merah. All six farmers from Tanah Merah had at least one application with estimated exposure greater than the AOEL while in Pasir Mas only one farmers had exposures greater than the AOELs. There were six active substances contributed to the exceedances, comprising propanil, bentazone sodium, MCPA dimethylammonium and imidacloprid due to their relatively larger amount applied while chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin due to their relatively higher toxicity. Results also indicate that older farmers (? 55 years old) .and farmers with longer working experience (? 10 years) had higher number of pesticides application. The higher pesticide exposure estimation in Tanah Merah compared to Pasir Mas was also influenced by the irrigation systems because the major irrigation system increases the production output for the paddy field. Study findings indicate that farming experience, age and irrigation system as major factors of pesticide exposure among the farmers.