Prevention of pesticide poisoning for rural workers in the Submédio do Vale do São Francisco

Abstract

The use of pesticides is a local reality in irrigated horticulture in Petrolina-PE. Due to that, particularly the rural population is exposed to these products at health risk. To the prevention of accidents involving these compounds, various measures are needed, including information. The purpose of this study was to conduct workshops, realized in public schools in the Irrigation Perimeter, in order to alert the gravity of using pesticides and guide rural workers on the measures of prevention of intoxication by these substances. Thus, 21 workshops were carried out in 7 schools, reaching a public of 790 students, from August 2007 to July 2008. The workshops discussed issues such as: history, concept and types of pesticides; cycle of environmental contamination, human contamination; signs and symptoms associated with intoxication; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the washing and disposal of empty containers. The evaluations of actions were carried out through the application of questions, before and after the workshops. The results showed a greater understanding by the target public in the majority of the themes which emphasizes the prevention of pesticide poisoning in this region.