Pesticide-related health problems and diseases among farmers in the UnitedArab Emirates

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of pesticides on farm work ers and to identify some risk factors associated with pesticide conditions may cause adverse health effects in farm workers in the United Arab Emirate s. This case-control study consisted of 103 farm workers (case) and 105 non -farm workers (control), matched for age, sex and nationality selected from Al-Ain city, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah Emirates. Indian-subcontinent wor kers represented the majority among farmers (90.3%) and non-farmers (82.9%) . While the majority of farmers were illiterate and had low level of educat ion, the non-farmers slightly shifted towards a higher level of education ( p <0.0001). Most of the farmers were living in pre fabricated houses (50.5% ) and were washing the harvested product (72.8%) before eating. Farmers had higher prevalence of symptoms than non-farmers, being significantly greate r for diarrhoea (p < 0.016), nausea/vomiting (p < 0.003), rash (p < 0.002), red/irritated eye/blurred vision (p < 0.024), increased anxiety (p < 0.003 ), dizziness (p < 0.0001), headache (p < 0.024), muscular symptoms (p < 0.0 15), memory loss (p < 0.0001), drowsiness (p < 0.003), fatigue (p < 0.001), dyspnoea (p < 0.005), and insomnia (p < 0.001). Also, farm workers had hig her prevalence respiratory symptoms than non-farm workers being significant ly greater for cough, phlegm, breathlessness, sinusitis, throat discomfort, chronic bronchitis, asthma diagnosis by doctor, allergic rhinitis, skin pr uritus (tinea, contact dermatitis) and eczema. In conclusion, this study de termined possible exposure and associated risk factors with pesticides amon g farmers and there is evidence that some of the illnesses obtained in this study could be related to excessive exposure to pesticides.