Verónica I Domínguez-Rodríguez1,
José J Obrador-Olán1
,
Randy H Adams2,
Joel Zavala-Cruz1,
Humberto Vaquera-Huerta3,
Armando Guerrero-Peña1,
Edith Miranda-Cruz4
1Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Tabasco, Periferico Carlos A. Molina S/N Carr. Cardenas-Huimanguillo Km 3.5. H. Cárdenas;
2Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Carr. Vhsa-Cárdenas Km 0.5 Entronque Bosques de Saloya, Villahermosa;
3Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo;
4Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Km 25+2 de la Carr. Vhsa-Teapa R/a La Huasteca 2da. Secc. Centro, Tabasco. Mexico.
For correspondence:-
Received: 13 May 2015
Accepted: 2 August 2015
Published: 29 September 2015
Citation:
Domínguez-Rodríguez VI, Obrador-Olán JJ, Adams RH, Zavala-Cruz J, Vaquera-Huerta H, Guerrero-Peña A, et al.
Occupational and environmental risks from mancozeb in aviation facilities in the banana producing area of Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(9):1703-1712
doi:
10.4314/tjpr.v14i9.23
© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract
Purpose: To identify occupational risks and practices in the four aerial fumigation facilities in the Sierra banana growing region and to evaluate environmental impacts from Mancozeb use.
Methods: Occupational health risks were identified and practices in the four aerial fumigation facilities in the Sierra banana growing region were documented. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with installation managers. To evaluate environmental impact, samples of water and soil were collected and analysed in an acute toxicity bioassay with Vibrio fischeri, using uncontaminated soil and water to establish background levels.
Results: Even in the largest and best-equippedfacility, serious risks to workers’ health were encountered from inadequate use of protective equipment by workers. Furthermore, excessive use of pesticide, lack of re-use of unused product, poor facility design and poor use of wash-water were observed, resulting in maximum toxicity of > 5 times background in discharged water. Parallel soil samples were > 20 times more toxic than background, being most toxic at > 0.5 km from the discharge point.
Conclusion: Areas of opportunity to improve worker health and the environment include proper and consistent use of protective equipment, re-use of unused product, wastewater reduction and appropriate wastewater treatment.
Keywords: Black Sigatoka, Ethylene thiourea, Fumigation, Pesticide, Mancozeb, Airports, Microtox, Vibrio fischeri, Occupational health risks, Toxicity