Sale, storage and use of legal, illegal and obsolete pesticides in Bolivia

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of study area with La Paz County marked in dark grey

Table

Checklist	Fecha: Nombre de tienda
	Sí	No	Observaciones
A. Infraestructura de comercialización
1. Cuenta con servicios sanitarios (baños, duchas, etc.)
2. Local amplio
3. Local ventilado
4. Tiene piso impermeable a líquidos (piso de cemento)
5. Hay muros completos
6. Cuenta con botiquín de primero auxilios
7. Posee material absorbente en caso de derramamiento de plaguicidas (aserrin, tierra, arena)
8. Los plaguicidas están almacenados en estantes o palets
9. Los estantes son metálicos
10. Estan guardados fertilizantes, semillas, forrajes y/o productos de apliacación veterinaria junto con los productos fitosanitarios.
11. Estan separados los productos por su grado de inflamabilidad y accion biológica (insecticidas, herbicidas, fungicidas)
12. Si los productos no están separados, los mas toxicos deben estar abajo y los liquidos debajo de los polvos
13. La tienda esta mas del 60% de su capacidad de almacenamiento
14. Están separados los sitios de expendio y de deposito
15. El almacen de expendio es ordenado
16. Cuenta con extintor
17. Se siente olor a plaguicidas
18. Tienen simbolos a letreros de advertencia: No fumar, no encender estufas, etc.
19. Hay medios de comunicación (teléfono, radio, etc.)
20. Está ubicada en una área urbana
21. Existe venta de alimentos a menos de 25 m de distancia
22. Si venden alimentos, bebidas o medicamentos estan al lado de los plaguicidas
B. Del personal
23. Cuenta con un asesor técnico permanente
24. Tienen seguro médico
25. El personal es capacitado en el manejo de plaguicidas
26. Posee equipo de seguridad (máscara, lentes, guantes, etc.)
27. Se usa el equipo de seguridad
28. Se someten a chequeos médicos frecuentes
29. Existen menores de edad en el local de expendio
30. Se venden plaguicidas a menores de edad

Table 1. Descriptive data on Bolivian pesticide retailers (N = 40) and farmers (N = 191)

Variable		Student’s t-test, p value
Mean age in years (SD)
Farmer	44.3 (11.28)	<0.001
Retailer	35.3 (11.33)
		χ ^2 -test, p value
Sex (Females)
Farmer	152/191 (27.2%)	<0.001
Retailer	23/40 (57.5%)
Education (Primary school or less)
Farmer	95/191 (49.7%)	<0.001
Retailer	10/40 (25%)
Can read Spanish
Farmer	182/191(95.3%)	0.53
Retailer	39/40 (97.5%)
Have received courses in pesticide handling
Farmer	81/191 (42.4%)	<0.001
Retailer	30/40 (75%)
Knows colour of most toxic pesticide
Farmer	90/191 (47.1%)	0.14
Retailer	24/40 (60%)
Use gloves when handling pesticides
Farmer	74/191 (38.7%)	<0.001
Retailer	35/40 (87.5%)
Use apron when handling pesticides
Farmer	14/191 (7.3%)	<0.001
Retailer	18/40 (45%)
Wash hands after pesticide handling
Farmer	182/191 (95.3%)	<0.001
Retailer	27/40 (67.5%)
Change clothes after pesticide handling
Farmer	123/191 (64.4%)	<0.001
Retailer	13/40 (32.5%)
Eats at work/while handling pesticides
Farmer	60/191 (31.3%)	0.26
Retailer	9/40 (22.5%)
Has felt ill after handling pesticides within the last year
Farmer	62/189 (32.8%)	0.06
Retailer	7/40 (17.5%)

Table 2. Farmers’ buying of pesticides and their relationship with pesticide retailers

Variable	Number (N)
Knows what to buy and what the pesticide is used for	121/190 (63.7%)
Use advice from pesticide retailers for choosing the right pesticide	133/188 (70.8%)
Buy their pesticides from a pesticide retailer	132/191 (69.1%)
Receives advice from retailer when buying pesticides	153/190 (80.5%)
Buy pesticides in original container	181/191 (94.8%)

Table 3. Summary of visual observation of 10 pesticide retail stores in Bolivia

	Yes (n/10)	No (n/10)	Missing (n/10)
Infrastructure
Has sanitary services (bathroom/shower/etc.)	5	5
Spacious store	2	7	1
Well ventilated area	2	8
Has a cement floor (impermeable to liquids)	8	0	2
Has a first-aid kit	7	3
Has absorbent material in case of a pesticide spill (sawdust, dirt, sand)	6	3	1
Pesticides are stored on shelves or pallets	10	0
The shelves are metal	8	2
The fertilizers, seeds, animal feed and veterinary products are stored next to the pesticide products	7	3
The products are separated according to their level of flammability and biologic action (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides)	4	6
If the products are not separated, the most toxic should be on the bottom and the liquids below the powders/dusts	1	5	4
The store is at more than 60% capacity	7	1	2
The sale and storage areas are separate	7	3
The sales counter is orderly	6	3	1
Has a fire extinguisher	1	9
The store has a pesticide odour	9	1
Has warning symbols or signs: no smoking, no lighting of matches, etc.	1	9
Has means of communication (phone, radio, etc.)	9	1
Located in an urban area	10	0
Food is being sold within 25 m of the store	8	1	1
Food, drinks or medicine are sold next to pesticides	1	7	2
Personnel
Have a permanent technical advisor	9	1
Have a medical insurance	3	7
Employees are trained in the handling of pesticides	8	2
Have personal protective equipment (mask, safety goggles, gloves, etc.)	5	5
Use personal protective equipment	4	6
Get regular medical check-ups	2	8
Minors work at the store	3	7
Pesticides are sold to minors	1	9

Table 4. Summary of visual observation of farmers’ stocks of pesticides found in their homes and on their properties

Variable	Number (N)
Indicate active ingredient	278/312 (89.1%)
WHO class
I = Highly hazardous	137/312 (43.9%)
II = Moderately hazardous	148/312 (47.4%)
III = Slightly hazardous	3/312 (1%)
U = Unlikely to present acute hazards	12/312 (3.8%)
O = Obsolete	12/312 (3.8%)
Chemical class
Organophosphates (OP)	153/312 (49%)
Pyretheroids (PY)	125/312 (40.1%)
Carbamates (C)	9/312 (2.9%)
Organochlorides (OC)	2/312 (0.6%)
Others	23/312 (7.4%)
Lack an intact label	57/310 (14.8%)
Not stored in original container	44/312 (10.9%)
Lack Ministry of agriculture stamp	116/312 (37.2%)
Do not show expiry date	125/312 (40.1%)
Expired pesticides on the containers with expiry dates	15/187 (8%)
Illegal pesticide	39/312 (12.5%)
Storage of pesticides
Store pesticides unlocked	1008/191 (56.5%)
In reach of children’s	94/181 (54.5%)
Beside food	2/186 (1%)