Factors Associated with Cholinesterase Levels and Spatial Risk Assessment of Rice Farmers Exposed to Pesticides in Kantharawichai District, Mahasarakham Province

Abstract

Cross-sectional descriptive research to assess pesticide exposure to toxins and factors associated with cholinesterase levels and classify cholinesterase risk areas using geographic information system (GIS) in Kantharawichai District, Mahasarakham Province. A study was conducted on 505 rice farmers, using a questionnaire to assess the risk of exposure to chemicals and screen for cholinesterase enzyme in the blood of farmers during rice cultivation. Factors affecting cholinesterase enzyme levels were analyzed using logistic regression, and spatial cholinesterase enzyme level risk maps. The results found that most farmers had a risk of exposure to pesticides at low, medium, fairly high, and high-risk levels, 65.5%, 18.8%, 10.5%, and 5.2%, respectively. Females having cholinesterase levels that are 1.62 times higher than males (OR_adj = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.12 to 2.68, p-value<0.01), working for more than 20 years, having cholinesterase levels that are 6.69 times higher than those who have worked for less than 10 years (OR_adj = 6.69, 95%CI = 3.52 to 12.78, p-value<0.01), and those with relatively high risk from chemical exposure have a chance of having cholinesterase levels that are 32.97 times higher than those with low risk from chemical exposure (OR_adj =32.97, 95%CI = 9.44 to 115.20, p-value<0.01). In the sub-district area of 3 sub-districts, there are unsafe levels of cholinesterase enzyme. The study results indicate that the use of pesticides poses a high risk to farmers' health. Knowledge and preventive measures should be strengthened to reduce occupational diseases.