Pesticides Exposure: The Case of Workers on Growing Grapes in San Francisco Valley, Petrolina/Brazil

Francisco Alves Pinheiro, Paulo José Adissi

Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Paraiba, Jo?o Pessoa, Brazil.
Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of San Francisco Valley, Juazeiro, Brazil.

DOI: 10.4236/as.2014.510085                

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze the systems of application of pesticides used in harvesting grapes of the sub-medium San Francisco valley, in relation to the risks of occupational contamination. The manual, mechanized and semi mechanized systems of application, adopted by the grape growers of the city of Petrolina/PE, have been analyzed through a method of both quantitative and qualitative evaluation. In such a way, two production units were visited: a mid-sized company and another one from of the CODEVASF. Five simulations were carried out in four systems of pesticide application using the European entire body method. Pre-application processes, such as storage and dilution of pesticides, as well as post-application processes, including equipment maintenance, cleaning and storage of clothes used for the application process were also analyzed. The results show large differences in risk among the systems that were analyzed and better conditions offered by the agricultural company, which was seeking to obtain the certification process.

Keywords

Agricultural Work, Growing Grapes, Chemical Risk, Pesticides Exposure

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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