Acute Poisonings
Risk factors for occupational illnesses (01.01.95)
Weinbaum Z, Samuels SJ, and Schenker MB, Risk factors for occupational illnesses associated with the use of paraquat (1,1’-dimethyl-4,4’-bipyridylium dichloride in California, Archives of Environmental Health 50(5), 341-348, 1995
Between 1971 and 1985 in California 231 cases of illness due to paraquat were reported, corresponding to c. 14 per year (median value, range 1-33; exposure included other pesti-cides besides paraquat in 23.8% of cases). The majority of illness cases (38.5%) associ-ated with paraquat were systemic (with symptoms of acute poisoning and respiratory symptoms), eye and skin illnesses occurred in 32% and 26% of cases, respectively, and local respiratory symptoms accounted for 3.5% of cases. Most illness cases (39.1%) oc-curred during handling of spray equipment (by cleaning, due to a malfunction such as leakage or splashes during loading). One third of illnesses were due to various factors in-cluding 12.4 % environmental causes (e.g. change of wind, spray drift), 11% accidents and 7.1% accidental contact with paraquat during the spraying or handling. 55 of the 231 cases were associated with loss of workdays (median number 2 days, range 1-30 d), 11 cases were hospitalised and ten of these were systemic (median duration of hospitalisation was 7 days, range 1-17 d). Between 1981 and 1985 the rate of paraquat-related illness cases associated with manual sparying was 18 times higher than with general ground applica-tion, while other factors with a higher risk of illness were the crop type (cotton and fruit trees especially) and season. Higher illness rates in summer may arise from less protec-tive clothing worn, different physiological response at higher temperatures or increased paraquat absorption.
Between 1971 and 1985 in California 231 cases of illness due to paraquat were reported, corresponding to c. 14 per year (median value, range 1-33; exposure included other pesti-cides besides paraquat in 23.8% of cases). The majority of illness cases (38.5%) associ-ated with paraquat were systemic (with symptoms of acute poisoning and respiratory symptoms), eye and skin illnesses occurred in 32% and 26% of cases, respectively, and local respiratory symptoms accounted for 3.5% of cases. Most illness cases (39.1%) oc-curred during handling of spray equipment (by cleaning, due to a malfunction such as leakage or splashes during loading). One third of illnesses were due to various factors in-cluding 12.4 % environmental causes (e.g. change of wind, spray drift), 11% accidents and 7.1% accidental contact with paraquat during the spraying or handling. 55 of the 231 cases were associated with loss of workdays (median number 2 days, range 1-30 d), 11 cases were hospitalised and ten of these were systemic (median duration of hospitalisation was 7 days, range 1-17 d). Between 1981 and 1985 the rate of paraquat-related illness cases associated with manual sparying was 18 times higher than with general ground applica-tion, while other factors with a higher risk of illness were the crop type (cotton and fruit trees especially) and season. Higher illness rates in summer may arise from less protec-tive clothing worn, different physiological response at higher temperatures or increased paraquat absorption.
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