SS21-02 PESTICIDE EXPOSURE IN MOROCCAN FARMERS AND FAMILIES: BIOMONITORING AND PREDICTORS OF EXPOSURE TO HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Pesticide use may result in adverse effects on the environment and farmers’ health. We have assessed Moroccan farmers’ behaviour towards the safety measures and risks perception for pesticide use and the impact that this might have on the environment as well as on the farmers themselves and their families. Materials and Methods Several studies were conducted in the Saïss Plain, located in north-central Morocco: 1) cross-sectional study to identify gaps in knowledge and awareness of dangers to health and environment regarding pesticide use; 2) eco-toxicological study to assess the ecological and human health risks (for infants, children, and adults) due to ground water pollution with pesticides; and 3) human biomonitoring study to evaluate the actual exposure to pesticides of farmers and their families (spouse and children) and potential health risk. Results Most farmers were not trained in the application of pesticides. Subsequently, acute exposure symptoms like visual impairment (46%), followed by dizziness (44.3%), headache (39.4%), and excessive sweating (34.4%) were reported. Banned pesticides were still present in groundwater because of intensive agricultural activity. Chlorpyrifos methyl and ethyl were the pesticides most frequently detected (100% of samples). α-HCH, β-HCH, DDT, and DDE were found to pose a higher cancer risk to infants and children. Furthermore, children living in the intensive agricultural area were exposed to very high environmental levels of glyphosate, as reflected by glyphosate and AMPA urinary levels. Conclusions In Morocco, due to the lack of education and the presence of counterfeit market, pesticides constitute a major occupational and environmental problem.