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Social Vulnerability to Pesticide Exposure in Children from an Agricultural Community in Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Miguel Alfonso Ruiz-Arias

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit
    Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Yael Yvette Bernal-Hernández

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Irma Martha Medina-Díaz

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Briscia Socorro Barrón-Vivanco

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Cyndia Azucena González-Arias

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Francisco Alberto Verdín-Betancourt

    (Unidad Especializada de Ciencias Ambientales, CENITT)

  • Carlos Alberto Romero-Bañuelos

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Amelia Gascón-Cervantes

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Karla Yanin Rivera-Flores

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Rebeca Haro-Mota

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

  • Aurora Elizabeth Rojas-García

    (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit)

Abstract

The child population can be exposed to environmental pollutants, including pesticides that seriously affect their development. Pesticides are used to control vectors and pests in homes, agriculture and other sectors. Children are exposed to pesticides through different pathways. In this sense, it is of the utmost importance to know how children perceive the risk of exposure to pesticides. This study was aimed at identifying the sources that could increase the pesticide exposure and level of knowledge children have about the use and management of these compounds. A descriptive study was carried out, a structured questionnaire was applied to 373 children, 206 children from an community-a (area with a high use of pesticides) and 167 children from community-b (reference population). The results of our work show that more than 50% of infants in first, second, third, and sixth elementary-school grades are uninformed concerning what a pesticide is. The responses obtained from the children revealed that they are in great proximity to these compounds at home through the use of household insecticides (96.57%), in the form of a spiral (95.45%) and repellents (94.19%). In addition, 37.76% responded that they had observed pesticide containers for agricultural use at home. Drawings made by the participants suggest a broad perception of the effects of pesticides in their communities. In conclusion, the lack of knowledge of pesticides in the child population reveals several exposure risk factors, as well as a great variability in the manner in which children in Mexico perceive problems derived from use of these compounds.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Alfonso Ruiz-Arias & Yael Yvette Bernal-Hernández & Irma Martha Medina-Díaz & Briscia Socorro Barrón-Vivanco & Cyndia Azucena González-Arias & Francisco Alberto Verdín-Betancourt & Carlos Alber, 2023. "Social Vulnerability to Pesticide Exposure in Children from an Agricultural Community in Mexico," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(6), pages 2489-2510, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:16:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1007_s12187-023-10061-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-023-10061-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rafael Junqueira Buralli & Amana Freitas Dultra & Helena Ribeiro, 2020. "Respiratory and Allergic Effects in Children Exposed to Pesticides—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Emily Terese Sturm & Colton Castro & Andrea Mendez-Colmenares & John Duffy & Agnieszka (Aga) Z. Burzynska & Lorann Stallones & Michael L. Thomas, 2022. "Risk Factors for Brain Health in Agricultural Work: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-26, March.
    3. Zhanping Hu, 2020. "What Socio-Economic and Political Factors Lead to Global Pesticide Dependence? A Critical Review from a Social Science Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Christos A. Damalas & Ilias G. Eleftherohorinos, 2011. "Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-18, May.
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