Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 11(4), pp. 480 - 486
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110413
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Comparative Study of Two Pesticide-Associated Health Risk Assessment Methods: Questionnaire and Blood Cholinesterase Level Examination

Laksanee Boonkhao ^1,*, Pongsak Rattanachaikunsopon ², Thitima Saenrueang ¹, Warisil Baukeaw ^3
1 College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand
² Department of Biological Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand
³ Nongtae Health Promoting Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand

ABSTRACT

When employing the Pesticide Exposure Risk Assessment Form for Farmers (Nor Bor Kor. 1-56) under the guidelines of the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases in the Department of Disease Control, previous studies have found that the majority of farmers face low level of health risks from pesticides (organophosphate and carbamate) exposure. However, the opposite result was frequently observed when cholinesterase levels were examined in the farmers' blood. It is of interest to find out whether or not these two risk assessment methods are in agreement. This study aims to compare two pesticide-associated health risk assessment methods: the health risk assessment questionnaire (Model 1) and blood cholinesterase level examination (Model 2). The participants were 195 vegetable farmers from Khi Lek Subdistrict, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand. By the questionnaire method, the risks of pesticide exposure among the farmers were assessed based on their acute symptoms. By the blood cholinesterase level test method, the risks were assessed and divided into four levels: normal, safe, at-risk, and unsafe. These data together with data on pesticide use behavior were then used to assess the health risks of the participants. The results obtained from Model 1 and Model 2 were compared using the Stuart-Maxwell test. The findings show that the results obtained from Model 1 and Model 2 were statistically different (p-value <0.001). Therefore, it is important to consider that evaluating farmers' health risks based entirely on a questionnaire may not be appropriate. Blood cholinesterase level tests should be taken into account.

KEYWORDS
Health Risk Assessment, Pesticide, Questionnaire, Cholinesterase

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Laksanee Boonkhao , Pongsak Rattanachaikunsopon , Thitima Saenrueang , Warisil Baukeaw , "Comparative Study of Two Pesticide-Associated Health Risk Assessment Methods: Questionnaire and Blood Cholinesterase Level Examination," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 480 - 486, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110413.

(b). APA Format:
Laksanee Boonkhao , Pongsak Rattanachaikunsopon , Thitima Saenrueang , Warisil Baukeaw (2023). Comparative Study of Two Pesticide-Associated Health Risk Assessment Methods: Questionnaire and Blood Cholinesterase Level Examination. Universal Journal of Public Health, 11(4), 480 - 486. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110413.