Abstract

Introduction: Pesticides exposure has been a relevant source of association to common mental disorders (CMD) development. Rural population are the most likely to develop common mental disorders when it refers to pesticides contamination and poisoning. The neurotoxicity from those pesticides shows a severe damage to mental health.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of common mental disorders linked to pesticides exposure.

Methods: A transversal retrospective and descriptive epidemiologic research was made in a rural area of Jataí, a city in the state of Goiás, Brazil, in the period of 2018 to 2020. The study population consisted of 43 farmers in contact with pesticides, whose children attended 3 rural schools in that area. Data were collected by individual interviews conducted by trained researchers using a patterned questionnaire in addition to SRQ-20.

Results: The prevalence of CMD in these rural families of the southwest from Goiás was 32,5%. It exhibits predominance for female sex (n = 27, 62,79%) and rural zone residency (88,37%). Majority number of interviewed reported a low educational stage, completed, at most, high school.

Discussion: The vulnerability of the rural families exposed to pesticides has an intimate relationship with the following risk factors: high toxicity of agricultural inputs; low education stage; lack of specialized guidance on the use of pesticides; exposure level; absolute number of past intoxications; lack of action by public policies to promote, prevent and treat the health of at-risk populations.

Recommendations: The chronic intoxications, subnotification, the difficulty of characterized and symptoms related to grievances are other issues that should be better analyzed and empirically tested to assess the impact of pesticides on populations. We hope that the results of this research can contribute to the analysis and reflection of the proposed theme, as well as the promotion of effective mental health strategies for rural populations.

Keywords: Pesticides; Common Mental Disorders; Neurotoxic; Mental Health; Epidemiological Study; Rural Population

References

1. Silva NG and Müller L. "Rural communication: evolution x potentialities". Electronic Journal in Management, Education and Environmental Technology1 (2015): 121-128.
2. PDM snows and Bellini M. "Poisoning by pesticides in the central northern mesoregion of Paraná, Brazil - 2002 to 2011". Science and Public Health11 (2013): 3147-3156.
3. Campos E., et al. “Exposure to pesticides and mental disorders in a rural population of Southern Brazil”. Neurotoxicology 56 (2016): 7-16.
4. Mazon LM and Cp Steff. "Epidemiological study of risk factors for intoxication among fumiculture rs occupationally exposed to pesticides". Health and Environment Magazine1 (2012): 65-73.
5. Albuquerque PCC., et al. “Health information systems and pesticide poisoning at Pernambuco”. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia3 (2015): 666-678.
6. Morin P and Stumm EMF. "Common mental disorders in farmers, relationship with pesticides, physical symptoms and preexisting diseases”. Journal of Psychology 2 (2018): 196-205.
7. Jacobson LSV., et al. "Pomeranian community and use of pesticides: a little known reality". Science and Public Health6 (2009): 2239-2249.
8. Bastos Mla., et al. "Common mental disorders in workers chronically exposed to pesticides: the case of agents fighting endemic diseases”. Brazilian Journal of Occupational Medicine4 (2019): 506-510.
9. Levigard YE and Rozemberg B. “Occupational exposure to pesticides and health professionals’ interpretation of “nervousness” among rural residents”. Cadernos de Saúde Pública6 (2014): 1515-1524.
10. Pancotto L. "Presence of common mental disorders and the use of pesticides in the municipality of Monte Belo do Sul - RS: an exploratory study". Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2013).
11. Morin PV and Stumm EMF. "Common mental disorders in farmers, relationship with pesticides, physical symptoms and preexisting diseases”. Psycho2 (2018): 196-205.
12. Barreto DO Carmo MB., et al. "Screening of common mental disorders by the SRQ-20 in Brazil: what are the alternative strategies of analysis?" Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria2 (2018): 115-122.
13. “A User's guide to the self reporting questionnaire (‎SRQ/compiled by M. Beusenberg and J. Orley”. World Health Organization. Division of Mental Health (‎1994)‎.
14. Husain N., et al. “Depression and social stress in Pakistan”. Psychological Medicine2 (2000): 395-402.
15. Lima Ms., et al. “Stressful life events and minor psychiatric disorders: an estimate of the population attributable fraction in a Brazilian community-based study”. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine2 (1996): 211-222.
16. Mari JJ. “Psychiatric morbidity in three primary medical care clinics in the city of São Paulo: issues on the mental health of the urban poor”. Social Psychiatry3 (1987): 129-138.
17. Gonçalves DM., et al. "Performance evaluation of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire as a psychiatric screening instrument: a comparative study with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR". Public Health Notebooks2 (2008): 380-390.
18. Hardin GTW., et al. “Mental disorders in primary health care: a study of their frequency and diagnosis in four developing countries”.  Psychological Medicine2 (1980): 231-241.
19. Santos KOB., et al. "Evaluation of a psychic morbidity measurement instrument: Self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) validation study". Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública3 (2011): 544-560.
20. Trevilato G., et al. "Screening of minor psychiatric disorders in fumicultores in the municipality of Candelaria-RS. 2015". Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2015).
21. Lima JPL. "Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders in Rural Communities in Atibaia/SP - Brazil". Brazilian Notebooks of Mental Health15 (2015): 81-121.
22. Foulds GA and Hope K. “Manual do Inventário Symptom Sign (SSI)”. University of London Press: London (1968).
23. Moreira JC., et al. "Integrated evaluation of the impact of the use of pesticides on human health in an agricultural community of Nova Friburgo, RJ". Ciência and Saúde Coletiva2 (2002): 299-311.
24. Faria Nmx., et al. "Rural work and pesticide poisoning". Public Health Notebooks5 (2004): 1298-1308.
25. Bedor C., et al. "Vulnerabilities and situations of risks related to the use of pesticides in irrigated fruit production". Brazilian Journal of Epidemiology1 (2009): 39-49.
26. Santana CM., et al. "Occupational exposure of rural workers to pesticides". Collective Health Notebook3 (2016): 301-307.
27. Lima PJP. "Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders in Rural Communities in Atibaia/SP Brazil". Brazilian Notebooks of Mental Health15 (2014): 101-121.
28. Moreira J KP., et al. "Prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors in a population assisted by family health program teams”. Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria3 (2011): 221-226.
29. Corcino CO., et al. "Evaluation of the effect of the use of pesticides on the health of rural workers of irrigated fruit production". Science and Public Health8 (2019): 3117-3128.
30. Cezar-Vaz MR., et al. “Socio-environmental approach in nursing: focusing on rural labor and the use of pesticides”. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem 6 (2016): 1114-1121.
31. Araújo AJ., et al. "Multiple exposure to pesticides and health effects: a cross-sectional study in a sample of 102 rural workers, Nova Friburgo, RJ". Science and Public Health1 (2007): 115-130.
32. Alavanja MC., et al. “Characteristics of pesticide use in a pesticide applicator cohort: the Agricultural Health Study”. Environmental Research2 (1999): 172-179.
33. Silva DO., et al. “Exposure to pesticides and acute intoxication in a region of intense agricultural production in Mato Grosso”. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde3 (2019): e2018456.
34. Pignati W., et al. "Surveillance of pesticides: quantification of the use and prediction of impacts on health-work-environment for Brazilian municipalities". Science and Public Health12 (2014): 4669-4678.
35. Recena MC., et al. “Pesticides exposure in Culturama, Brazil-Knowledge, attitudes, and practices”. Environmental Research2 (2006): 230-236.
36. Wesseling C., et al. “Symptoms of psychological distress and suicidal ideation among banana workers with a history of poisoning by organophosphate or n-methyl carbamate pesticides”. Occupational and Environmental Medicine11 (2010): 778-784.
37. Beseler C., et al. "Depression and pesticide exposure in wives of licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study cohort”. Journal Occupational Environmental Medicine 48 (2006): 1005-1013.
38. Beseler C., et al. "Depression and pesticide exposure among private pesticide applicators enrolled in the agricultural health study”. Environmental Health Perspectives12 (2008): 1713-1719.