Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Adolescents living in agricultural communities may be at risk for the adverse effects of pesticide exposure because they are involved in agriculture either as a career or to support their families.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of farm activities related to pesticide exposure on blood cholinesterase (ChE) levels among adolescents from farming families in the north of Thailand.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 336 adolescents aged 12-19 years from farming families in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Data on pesticide exposure was collected using a questionnaire, and blood ChE activity was assessed using a ChE reactive paper test kit via fingerstick blood sampling.
RESULTS: Overall, 51.2% of participants had abnormal blood ChE levels. Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that pesticide-related activities on farms associated with abnormal ChE levels were mixing/spraying (OR=10.54; 95%CI=4.63-23.99), assisting or working in areas with pesticide application (OR=5.54; 95%CI=3.45-8.89), and harvesting (OR=3.70; 95%CI=2.35-5.82). In a multivariable model (Nagelkerke R2=0.374), mixing/spraying (OR=4.90; 95%CI=2.03-11.83) and assisting or working in areas with pesticide application (OR=2.61; 95%CI=1.49-4.57) were significantly associated with abnormal ChE levels, but harvesting (OR=1.48; 95%CI=0.84-2.61) was not significant after adjusting for sex, age in years, and entering or walking through a farm.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that Thai adolescents living in farming families are at risk of pesticide exposure, particularly those involved in agricultural activities such as pesticide applicators. An intervention and measure to raise awareness and reduce the risk of pesticide exposure in adolescents is required.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of farm activities related to pesticide exposure on blood cholinesterase (ChE) levels among adolescents from farming families in the north of Thailand.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 336 adolescents aged 12-19 years from farming families in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Data on pesticide exposure was collected using a questionnaire, and blood ChE activity was assessed using a ChE reactive paper test kit via fingerstick blood sampling.
RESULTS: Overall, 51.2% of participants had abnormal blood ChE levels. Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that pesticide-related activities on farms associated with abnormal ChE levels were mixing/spraying (OR=10.54; 95%CI=4.63-23.99), assisting or working in areas with pesticide application (OR=5.54; 95%CI=3.45-8.89), and harvesting (OR=3.70; 95%CI=2.35-5.82). In a multivariable model (Nagelkerke R2=0.374), mixing/spraying (OR=4.90; 95%CI=2.03-11.83) and assisting or working in areas with pesticide application (OR=2.61; 95%CI=1.49-4.57) were significantly associated with abnormal ChE levels, but harvesting (OR=1.48; 95%CI=0.84-2.61) was not significant after adjusting for sex, age in years, and entering or walking through a farm.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that Thai adolescents living in farming families are at risk of pesticide exposure, particularly those involved in agricultural activities such as pesticide applicators. An intervention and measure to raise awareness and reduce the risk of pesticide exposure in adolescents is required.
摘要：
背景：生活在农业社区的青少年可能面临农药暴露的不利影响的风险，因为他们从事农业作为职业或养家糊口。
目的：本研究的目的是调查与农药暴露相关的农场活动对泰国北部农业家庭青少年血液胆碱酯酶（ChE）水平的关联。
方法：这项横断面研究包括来自清岛区农业家庭的336名12-19岁青少年，清迈省。使用问卷调查收集农药暴露数据，使用ChE反应性试纸试剂盒通过手指穿刺血液采样评估血液ChE活性。
结果：总体而言，51.2%的参与者血液ChE水平异常。单变量logistic回归分析显示，与ChE水平异常相关的农场农药相关活动为混合/喷洒（OR=10.54；95CI=4.63-23.99），协助或在农药施用地区工作（OR=5.54；95CI=3.45-8.89），和收获（OR=3.70；95CI=2.35-5.82）。在多变量模型中(NagelkerkeR2=0.374)，混合/喷洒（OR=4.90;95CI=2.03-11.83）以及在使用农药的地区协助或工作（OR=2.61;95CI=1.49-4.57）与异常的ChE水平显着相关，但在调整性别后收获（OR=1.48;95CI=0.84-2.61）并不显著，年龄,进入或穿过农场。
结论：研究结果表明，生活在农业家庭中的泰国青少年有接触农药的风险，特别是那些参与农业活动的人，如农药施用者。需要采取干预措施，以提高认识并降低青少年接触农药的风险。
目的：本研究的目的是调查与农药暴露相关的农场活动对泰国北部农业家庭青少年血液胆碱酯酶（ChE）水平的关联。
方法：这项横断面研究包括来自清岛区农业家庭的336名12-19岁青少年，清迈省。使用问卷调查收集农药暴露数据，使用ChE反应性试纸试剂盒通过手指穿刺血液采样评估血液ChE活性。
结果：总体而言，51.2%的参与者血液ChE水平异常。单变量logistic回归分析显示，与ChE水平异常相关的农场农药相关活动为混合/喷洒（OR=10.54；95CI=4.63-23.99），协助或在农药施用地区工作（OR=5.54；95CI=3.45-8.89），和收获（OR=3.70；95CI=2.35-5.82）。在多变量模型中(NagelkerkeR2=0.374)，混合/喷洒（OR=4.90;95CI=2.03-11.83）以及在使用农药的地区协助或工作（OR=2.61;95CI=1.49-4.57）与异常的ChE水平显着相关，但在调整性别后收获（OR=1.48;95CI=0.84-2.61）并不显著，年龄,进入或穿过农场。
结论：研究结果表明，生活在农业家庭中的泰国青少年有接触农药的风险，特别是那些参与农业活动的人，如农药施用者。需要采取干预措施，以提高认识并降低青少年接触农药的风险。
