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. 2022 Jul 23;19(15):8973.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19158973.

Interventions to Reduce Pesticide Exposure from the Agricultural Sector in Africa: A Workshop Report

Martin Röösli  1   2 , Samuel Fuhrimann  1   2 , Aggrey Atuhaire  3 , Hanna-Andrea Rother  4 , James Dabrowski  5 , Brenda Eskenazi  6 , Erik Jørs  7 , Paul C Jepson  8 , Leslie London  4 , Saloshni Naidoo  9 , Diane S Rohlman  10 , Ivy Saunyama  11 , Berna van Wendel de Joode  12 , Adeoluwa O Adeleye  13 , Oyebanji O Alagbo  13 , Dem Aliaj  14 , Jember Azanaw  15 , Ravichandran Beerappa  16 , Curdin Brugger  1 , Sunisa Chaiklieng  17 , Shala Chetty-Mhlanga  1 , Grace A Chitra  18 , Venugopal Dhananjayan  16 , Afure Ejomah  19 , Christian Ebere Enyoh  20 , Yamdeu Joseph Hubert Galani  21 , Jonathan N Hogarh  22 , Janefrances N Ihedioha  23 , Jeanne Priscille Ingabire  24 , Ellinor Isgren  25 , Yêyinou Laura Estelle Loko  26 , Liana Maree  27 , Nkoum Metou'ou Ernest  28 , Haruna Musa Moda  29 , Edward Mubiru  30 , Mwema Felix Mwema  31 , Immaculate Ndagire  32 , Godwin O Olutona  33 , Peter Otieno  34 , Jordan M Paguirigan  35 , Reginald Quansah  36 , Charles Ssemugabo  37 , Seruwo Solomon  38 , Mosudi B Sosan  13 , Mohammad Bashir Sulaiman  23 , Berhan M Teklu  39   40 , Isioma Tongo  41 , Osariyekemwen Uyi  19   42 , Henry Cueva-Vásquez  43 , Adriana Veludo  1 , Paola Viglietti  44 , Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie  44
Affiliations

Interventions to Reduce Pesticide Exposure from the Agricultural Sector in Africa: A Workshop Report

Martin Röösli et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Despite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted. This was followed by a qualitative survey among stakeholders involved in pesticide research or management in the African region to learn about barriers to and promoters of successful interventions. The project was concluded with an international workshop in November 2021, where a broad range of topics relevant to occupational and environmental health risks were discussed such as acute poisoning, street pesticides, switching to alternatives, or disposal of empty pesticide containers. Key areas of improvement identified were training on pesticide usage techniques, research on the effectiveness of interventions targeted at exposure reduction and/or behavioral changes, awareness raising, implementation of adequate policies, and enforcement of regulations and processes.

Keywords: Africa; environmental health; evidence-based policymaking; integrated pest management (IPM); interventions; mixed methods; occupational health; personal protective equipment; pesticides; risk assessment; stakeholders; sub-Saharan Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Country of work of the registered workshop participants (blue = Africa; purple = Asia; red = Americas; green = Europe).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Registered workshop participants: (a) professional background; (b) number of years of professional pesticide experience.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) The most relevant occupational risks of pesticide applicators; (b) the most relevant triggers for initiating research as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 37, up to 3 responses per person).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Proposed occupational health priorities for research as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 39, priority rated from 1 to 6, denoting lowest to highest).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Potential barriers to switching to alternatives as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 20, importance rated from 1 to 6, denoting lowest to highest).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Factors that may promote switching to alternatives as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 23, importance rated from 1 to 6, denoting lowest to highest).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Trade-offs to switching to alternatives as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 23).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Most relevant exposure pathways as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 35).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Most relevant a) ecological and b) public health research priorities as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 29, relevance rated from 1 to 6, denoting lowest to highest).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Rating of the question: which interventions are known to be effective for reducing pesticide exposure in the environment? (n = 18, effectiveness rated from 1 to 6, denoting lowest to highest).
Figure 11
Figure 11
The effectiveness of which interventions that should be addressed in research as assessed by the workshop participants (n = 20, multiple-choice).
Figure 12
Figure 12
Which priority measures should be implemented (n = 26, up to 3 responses per person).
Figure 13
Figure 13
(a) What is the most pertinent problem when it comes to policy; (b) who should be most accountable for the management/disposal of empty pesticide containers (n = 32).
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