Health Risk of Pesticides Exposure among Workers: A Review

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Main Author: Hashim N.R.S.N.; Yhaya M.F.; Salleh N.; Nawi M.N.M.; Mamat M.N.; Nawi M.N.M.; Samad N.I.A.; Hamzah N.A.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2021
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85120799754&partnerID=40&md5=8d982c135e6136beb9c5c9cd544b3664

Pesticides are intended to control both pests and weeds. Pesticide exposure is inevitable to the workers that use pesticides in their work. Exposure to pesticides is harmful to the workers’ health physically and mentally. The exposure to pesticides can be short-term, intermediate repeated, and long-term repeated via eye contact, inhalation, ingestion, dermal, or injection. The human health risk assessment method is endorsed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) intended to assess human health from exposures. Various types of pesticide exposure can increase the health risk. Thus, this study aimed to review the possible health risk occurred upon exposure to pesticides either directly or indirectly worldwide. Related works of the literature search were done using Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Mendeley to review some articles related to the health risk of pesticides exposure which was published between the years 2002 to 2021. Respiratory cases and cancer have already been linked to pesticides exposure. The practical control measures are proper handling of pesticides and proper usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize or avoid the contact altogether. © 2021 UPM Press. All rights reserved.