Occupational Health Issues: Chemical Exposure in Agriculture Industry

This literature review synthesizes the health risks faced by farmers due to increasing agricultural intensification and chemical use. It highlights the potential health issues such as tumor promotion, immunotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity resulting from exposure to hazardous chemicals like pesticides. The review also discusses the legislative requirements and standard industry practices aimed at reducing agrochemical use and promoting sustainable practices. It emphasizes the importance of proper safety measures, worker training, and the implementation of environmental-friendly agricultural concepts to mitigate health hazards in the agricultural industry. The review concludes that improving working conditions and enforcing health and safety regulations are crucial for promoting a safe and healthy work environment in agriculture.

Running head: EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
1
Exposure to Chemicals in the Agricultural Industry
Name
Institutional affiliation
Date

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 2
Exposure to Chemicals in the Agricultural Industry
Aims and objectives
Agricultural industry is known to be one of the most important sectors worldwide,
not only through food production but also through employing workers. The occupational health
status of the work force is affected by many factors. Introduction of the modern technology has
dominated the world and reduced the importance of economic sectors. Different sectors in the
work environment face various challenges which affect the workers in one way or another. In
most developing countries agriculture has been the key driving factor in the country’s economy.
The aim of this study is to synthesize the health risks facing farmers as agricultural
intensification grows. By 2050 the world’s population is predicted to reach nine billion. This
would increase food production system in order to curb food security which is a great challenge.
Therefore growth in agricultural production can support many poor rural farmers. In southern
Asia growth of crops and livestock has tremendous increase resulting from agricultural
intensification. Although agricultural intensification has led to increase in food production, the
implications on public health are enormous.
This study will clearly indicate the results brought about by use of various chemical
in crop production. This is because in the modern world agriculture and health are intrinsically
linked. Harmful chemicals such as pesticides are widely used during crop production (Chemical
Company of Malaysia Berhad, 2017). This pesticide helps in controlling pests and pest related
diseases. In most cases this pesticides are the main source of air, water and soil pollution. This
clearly indicates the product releases harmful chemicals into the environment risking human
health. Pesticides have a great impact on cardiovascular disease and on respiratory infection.

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 3
Significant positive link has been found between pesticide sale and the less than 5 mortality rate.
Study shows the use of pesticides puts the human at the risk of getting cancer related diseases
(Darçın2, 2016). Failure to comply with safety guidelines while using this chemical may bring
about spillage of pesticides, leakage from its packaging and incorrect use of equipment’s which
may put the workers at a risk of exposure.
Review of the relevant literature.
Hazardous chemicals are exposed to workers who produce food in the agricultural industry. This
exposure may bring health issues such as tumor promotion, immunotoxicity and reproductive
and developmental toxicity. Excessive coughing and congestion which has affected 20 to 90
percent of farm workers and families has been brought chemicals used in food production by
farm workers. A link between agricultural chemicals and cancer has also been established (Piver,
2012).Agriculture is the largest sector employing many women in Africa and Asia. Exposure to
these chemicals has great impacts on women and children. They may interfere with hormones
and hormone balance; hence the chemicals are described as endocrine disruptors activated by
very low concentration of chemicals. They can results to:
 Diabetes and obesity
 Early puberty entailing uterus abnormalities, appearance of cysts in the ovaries. Hyper
and hypo thyroidism and thyroid tumors
 Neurological disorders, especially disorders in brain development and degenerative
diseases in the brain
 Reduced semen quality with consequent decreased fertility testicular and prostate cancer
Children have a more permeable skin than that of the adults; therefore they absorb
chemicals such as pesticides more easily through their skin increasing their total exposure.

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 4
The same way they take in more air, water and food relative to body weight compared to
adults (Thenguzhali & Veerachamy, 2018). Skin cancer is also a concern due to the also a
concern due to long hours workers spend in the sun. The noise produced by tractors,
chainsaws and factory machines can lead to permanent hearing loss unless noise –control
measures are taken. When workers are in the farm they are also exposed to reptiles and
insects bites mostly this risk is faced by those doing field work. The farmers may be attacked
by wild animals or bitten by animals such as snakes. Study has shown that by 2020 there will
be more than one billion people aged 60 years and older therefore social –cultural diversity
and an aging society with longer life expectancy and chronic diseases will be evident in the
work place.
Legislative Requirements
Agriculture was highly ranked in the Australia work health and safety strategy 2011-2022
(Dow Chemical Company, 2010).This came to pass through the consultations with governments,
unions, industries and the public. Its aim was to reduce causes of workplace injuries, diseases
and fatalities. The work health and safety act 2011 regulated work place health and safety. The
law protects people from risks to their health through promotion of healthy work
enviroments.The main objectives of this law were:
 Promoting education related to organization safety and health of workers.
 Providing high standards ensuring health and safety at work.
 Ensuring harmonization of laws relating to health and safety at work
 Provision of effective work place representation
 Protecting workers and other persons against harm to their health safety

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 5
 Enforcement measures on the law. Failure to enforce the laws laid down concerning
health and safety issue will result to direct cost for example, medical costs and workers
compensation.it would also lead to indirect causes them being, accommodating injured
employees, loss of productivity cost of replacing damaged materials ,equipment’s or
properties, cost of replacing staff and training time.
Standard industry practice
Urgent strategic approach is needed aiming at reducing the use of agrochemicals and
implementing sustainable practices and methods (Soule, Ramoa, Eissenberg, & Cobb, 2018).
Environmental friendly practices in the agricultural sector should be put in place in order to
eliminate health risks. There is a need for new agricultural concepts that must be based on drastic
reduction in the application of chemicals and pesticides and can result in health, environmental
and economic benefits. This would be necessary despite the difficulties encountered during the
establishment of such innovative concepts. If people would reject pesticides and embrace
environmental friendly practices this would be considered a step towards eliminating pesticides
and other harmful chemical used in food production.
As a way of eliminating the use of agricultural products which risk the health of
individuals, work place and homes should ensure their houses and working premises are well
ventilated since ventilation controls the temperature and the humidity of the environment (Bates,
& Malnar (2016). This would control exposure to airborne substances. Installation of this well
ventilated premises and homes should be done by professionals in order to ensure its
effectiveness. Managers in the work place should ensure the workers are properly informed and
trained on their use.

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 6
Work practices should also be put to consideration, since the manner in which a worker
performs a task can affect exposure. Workers should be trained in order to attain good work
practices. They should be trained on the manner in which containers are handled and lids
removed, how to transfer dirty materials, ways in which empty containers are handled and work
speed.Respirtory protective equipment’s should be used while doing cleaning and maintenance.
In developed countries, advanced science and technology has led to the development of
new production systems, this has brought rapid changes in the production structures ensuring the
new technology is health cautious (Goetz, 2017). According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), every individual should be given opportunity to actively participate in work without risk
of getting any harm to his or her health. As a way of eliminating health hazards faced by workers
in the agricultural industry, the employer clearly set the occupational safety health (OSH)
policies complying with occupational safety and health laws and regulations. Workers should be
provided with necessary resources to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. The
resources required during handling of chemicals include gloves, safety glasses, aprons, safety
boots and protecting eyes from flying particles.
Conclusion
Through farming jobs agricultural workers are endangered to variety of physical hazards
Improvement of working conditions and work environment to become conducive to safety and
health is a direction which supports health and safety at work promoting a positive and smooth
operations in the organization. Due to the introduction of new technology in the agricultural
sector it, has become the most hazardous of all the economic sectors in today’s world. If proper
precautions are not put in place illness or even death may ensue. Work related to agriculture
carries significant risk to injury and diseases. In most organizations there a slow pace when it

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 7
comes to change. This has clearly been seen in the agricultural sector and there is great need for
agricultural health hazards to be addressed.

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 8
References
Bates, I., & Malnar, L. (2016). Chemical stability of prints made on hemp fibre based
papers. Acta Graphica, 27(3), 25–30. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=aft&AN=121400362&site=ehost-live
Goetz, N. (2017). The Global Food System as a Transport Pathway for Hazardous Chemicals:
The Missing Link between Emissions and Exposure. Environmental Health
Perspectives, 125(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP16
MarketLine Company Profile: Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad. (2017). Chemical
Company of Malaysia Berhad MarketLine Company Profile (pp. 1–20). Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=buh&AN=115468393&site=ehost-live
Soule, E. K., Ramôa, C., Eissenberg, T., & Cobb, C. O. (2018). Differences in puff topography,
toxicant exposure, and subjective response between waterpipe tobacco smoking men and
women. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 26(5), 440–447.
https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000207
The Dow Chemical Company. (2010). Dow Chemical Company SWOT Analysis, 1–9. Retrieved
from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=buh&AN=53744808&site=ehost-live
Thenguzhali, T., & Veerachamy, P. (2015). Occupational Health Hazards of Women
Construction Workers: A Critical Survey of the Literature. Language in India, 15(8),

EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY 9
288–319. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=ufh&AN=109039342&site=ehost-live