[Pomeranian community and the use of pesticides: an unknown reality]

The objective of this article is to characterize social and economically the Pomeranian community from 'Alto Santa Maria' in the municipality of Santa Maria de Jetibá at Espírito Santo State and investigate the main factors of pesticides exposure in rural community. A cross-sectional study was carried out interviewing 151 members of a rural Pomeranian community using a semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis was based in descriptive statistics and logistics regression models. The results revealed that the majority of the community members own their land. The child participation in agricultural activities is a tradition in the Pomeranian culture. The use of pesticides by this community began in the 80s since then; different types of pesticides have frequently been used by rural residents. The logistic regression models that associate the presence of some health problem with how the land is cleaned, pesticides usage, pesticides application frequency and the use of protection equipment, showed that the chance of an individual to present some health problem is related with the use of pesticides. Another regression model showed that the education level is an important factor to the use of protection equipment. The Pomeranian community studied has some cultural habits that contribute for the exposure of pesticides.