The present study aims to assess health impacts on pesticide
use in 136 farmers from Baan Mai Ras Bam Rung Village, San Kong Subdistrict,
Dok Kham Tai District, Phayao. Questionnaire and laboratory examination were
used as tools. Pesticide use in questionnaire consisted of objectives, type and
reasons of pesticide use, prevention practices from exposure, etc. Health impacts
questionnaire included physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. The
results showed that most farmers planted rice crop and the major pesticide use
was insecticides (79.4%), followed by herbicides, fungicides, and acaricides,
respectively (78.7, 40.4 and 33.1%). The reasons for the use were that facing
problem of insect and blight (86.8%), requiring good product appearance
(68.4%). The exposure prevention found most farmers (97.1%) wore long sleeve
shirts and long trousers. Impact on physical health, major symptoms were
fatigue (48.5%), parched trachea (44.9%), headache (40.4%), dizziness (36.8%),
and numbness (29.4%), respectively. The average of acetylcholinesterase
activity (AChE), as an indicator of organophosphate and carbamate exposure,
were 6,416\inline \pm1,443 μg/L. Regarding determination of cholinesterase
activity by rapid test from The Government Pharmaceutical Organization, 23.5%
of farmers had pesticide residues in serum at safe level, 55.1% at risk level,
and 21.3% at unsafe level. Impact on mental, social, and spiritual health found
86.8% worried about effect on health and to the environment, 27.9% concerned
regarding decreased local knowledge, and 57.4% planted organic crops for their
own consumption. The relationship between AChE activity and preventive
practices was negative (r = -0.172, P = 0.040). The appropriate prevention from
the pesticide impact was reduced exposure.