Thực trạng phơi nhiễm hóa chất bảo vệ thực vật nhóm phosphor hữu cơ và carbamat ở nông dân trồng chè tại xã Tân Cương, tỉnh Thái Nguyên năm 2024

In Vietnam, extensive use of pesticides in agriculture is crucial for crop yield but poses significant risks, particularly to farmers. Improper application and inadequate protective measures lead to widespread exposure and detrimental health impacts, a concern amplified by limited training on safe pesticide use. While cholinesterase activity is a common indicator, urinary metabolites offer a more comprehensive assessment of long-term exposure. Informal agricultural workers, specifically tea farmers in Thai Nguyen, face chronic exposure to harmful chemicals. Despite this, dedicated research on their health outcomes, especially concerning organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides, remains limited. This study addresses that gap by describing the current status of pesticide exposure among tea farmers, evaluating erythrocyte cholinesterase activity and urinary metabolites to understand the public health implications.

Public health researchers, occupational health professionals, environmental scientists, and policymakers focused on agricultural health and safety in developing countries, especially those working with farming communities exposed to pesticides.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 involving 111 tea farmers in Tan Cuong Commune, Thai Nguyen, to assess their exposure to organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides. The methodology included interviewing participants, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests for erythrocyte cholinesterase (ChE) activity and urinary pesticide metabolites. The study revealed significant health implications, with 28.83% of farmers exhibiting reduced erythrocyte ChE activity, and a concerning 2.70% showing severe inhibition (over 50% decrease). This indicates acute or chronic poisoning. Biological monitoring data further confirmed pervasive pesticides exposure, as carbamate metabolites, particularly 2-Isoproxyphenol (IPP), were detected at the highest concentrations, with a median of 18.19 µg/g creatinine. Organophosphorus metabolites, mainly diethylphosphate (DEP) and diethylthiophosphate (DETP), were also present, though at lower concentrations. A statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05, Spearman's rho = 0.2) was identified between erythrocyte ChE activity and several urinary metabolites, including dimethylphosphate (DMP), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP), diethylphosphate (DEP), and diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP). These findings unequivocally confirm the pervasive pesticide exposure among tea farmers, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced occupational health surveillance programs, robust preventive care strategies, and targeted interventions for informal agricultural workers. The study's results provide a crucial scientific basis for policymakers and public health officials to develop and implement effective measures to protect vulnerable farming communities from the adverse effects of pesticide exposure, thereby safeguarding their long-term health and well-being.