Chronic effects of paraquat on the lung
Pulmonary obstructive disease in a population using paraquat in Colombia (01.01.90)
Arroyave ME, Pulmonary obstructive disease in a population using paraquat in Co-lombia, In: Forget G, Goodman T, and de Villiers A (eds), Impact of pesticide use on health in developing countries, Proceedings of a symposium held in Ottawa, Canada, 17-20 September 1990, 85-93, Ottawa, Canada: Intl. Development Research Centre 1990
In Antioquia, Colombia, 11% of 5'483 people interviewed in 1986 used paraquat (15.2% of the rural and 4.4% of urban population) and practically only knapsack sprayers were used. 17% reported having experienced illness during the 2 weeks before the study and 7.2% of the health problems were related to the respiratory system (mostly coughing, runny nose, expectoration, dyspnea or shortness of breathing). 62.5% of participants had the problems for less than 15 days, 22.7% between 2 and 12 weeks and 10.1% for at least 1 year. A subsample of 896 people was medically examined and a physician made the following diagnosis: chronic bronchitis accounted for 12.8% of the responses, asthma for 2.7% and tuberculosis for 0.2%. In the subsample the relative risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in paraquat users was three times higher than in non-users and the association was strongly significant for smokers, indicating a synergic effect. Chronic bronchitis was more prevalent among paraquat users than non-users in smokers and non-smokers. The attributable risk of chronic bronchitis to paraquat use was 84 cases per 1'000 people. Among paraquat users with a high level of exposure the prevalence of colds affecting the chest was increased.
In Antioquia, Colombia, 11% of 5'483 people interviewed in 1986 used paraquat (15.2% of the rural and 4.4% of urban population) and practically only knapsack sprayers were used. 17% reported having experienced illness during the 2 weeks before the study and 7.2% of the health problems were related to the respiratory system (mostly coughing, runny nose, expectoration, dyspnea or shortness of breathing). 62.5% of participants had the problems for less than 15 days, 22.7% between 2 and 12 weeks and 10.1% for at least 1 year. A subsample of 896 people was medically examined and a physician made the following diagnosis: chronic bronchitis accounted for 12.8% of the responses, asthma for 2.7% and tuberculosis for 0.2%. In the subsample the relative risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in paraquat users was three times higher than in non-users and the association was strongly significant for smokers, indicating a synergic effect. Chronic bronchitis was more prevalent among paraquat users than non-users in smokers and non-smokers. The attributable risk of chronic bronchitis to paraquat use was 84 cases per 1'000 people. Among paraquat users with a high level of exposure the prevalence of colds affecting the chest was increased.
