Association of occupational exposure to pesticides with overweight and abdominal obesity in family farmers in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT

The association of chronic exposure to pesticides with overweight and abdominal obesity in adult farmers was investigated. This cross-sectional study included a random sample of 122 farmers and their family members of both sexes (61% were male), living in the municipality of Farroupilha, southern Brazil. Pesticide groups and their individual compounds were self-reported and classified according to major functional and chemical classes (never used, 1–20 years, or > 20 years of use). Abdominal obesity and overweight were the outcomes of interest. A multivariate Poisson regression model was analyzed. After confounding factors were controlled, chronic use (>20 years) of insecticides (PR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.00–2.10) and organophosphorus pesticides (PR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.02–2.12) was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight but not abdominal obesity. Additional studies are needed to confirm our findings and clarify the specific mechanisms of these pollutants in the etiology of obesity.

KEYWORDS:

• Key-words: pesticides
• obesity
• occupational hazard
• organophosphorus

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), Grant number: 21/2551-0000520-3.