The conditions of pesticide management and possible health hazards in Butajira, Ethiopia
A Minor Field Study Report January 2004 by
Malin Ahrne
MFS-Report No. 1/2004
Department of Community Health Addis Ababa University Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine Umeå International School of Public Health Department of Public Health Sciences Karolinska Institutet
2004-01-12 The Conditions of Pesticide Management and Possible Health Hazards in Butajira, Ethiopia
Investigator: Malin Ahrne Student of Public Health Karolinska Institutet, Sweden malin.ahrne@comhem.se Advisers: Dr Abera, Department of Community Health, Addis Abeba University Mr Wakgari Deressa, Department of Community Health, Addis Abeba University Mr Anders Emmelin, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea International School of Public Health Dr Yalemtsehay Mekonnen, Department of Biology, Addis Abeba University
Key words: Pesticides, Ethiopia, Butajira, health, agriculture.
This report on a study visit to Ethiopia, March 27 - May 16 2003, constitutes my Minor Field Study (MFS)-report. The grant from the International Programme Office, through IHCAR, Karolinska Institutet, to carry out an MFS, is gratefully acknowledged.
Abstract: Since the introduction of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agriculture the production of food has increased substantially. The use of pesticides is an occupational hazard for farmers all over the world, but special problems occur in low- and middle-income countries. 80 % of the population of Ethiopia works within the agricultural sector. The health hazards with handling, storing and applying pesticides depend on for example the classification of the chemical, the handling practices and the amount of exposure to the chemical. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of acute pesticide