Source, routes, and frequency of pesticide exposure among farmers

Little data on the prevalence of acute and chronic pesticide exposure among farmers and the frequency of protective gear use are available. This report presents results of a cross-sectional study of pesticide behaviors among dairy farmers certified to apply pesticides to field crops. Private dairy farmers residing in six adjacent Wisconsin counties were randomly selected and contacted by telephone for interview. One hundred ninety-one farmers completed the interview (response rate, 76.4%). Twelve percent reported never or almost never wearing gloves during application, and 53.7% reported never or almost never wearing other protective gear. Thirty-two percent reported dermal exposure, and 32.0% reported inhaling pesticides during last application. Findings suggest that exposure to pesticides was frequent in this sample, whereas use of personal protective equipment was not routine.