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Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in Blood of Farmers and Their General Health and Safety Profile


Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
 

Worldwide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become concerning issue for public health. The current study was carried out to analyze the health and safety conditions in agricultural fields of a developing country. Moreover, another aim of the study was to determine pesticide (VOCs) residues in farmers working in rice, corn and cotton fields. Collected blood samples were analyzed by gas chromatography for isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, ethanol, toluene, benzene and phenol. Questionnaire and checklist surveys were also carried out to measure the different health impacts. The qualitative analysis of pesticides in blood samples of farmers showed that those working in the cotton fields had high levels of ethanol that was 90.422 ppm, one had high levels of phenol that was 26.986 ppm, one had high levels of toluene that was 1.954 ppm and two had benzene levels that were 8.105 ppm and 5.654 ppm respectively. Isopropyl alcohol was not detected in any farmer. Health issues faced by farmers were skin, eye, nose and throat irritation, headache and fatigue. It is concluded that the working conditions in Pakistan farms are not up to the mark and it is recommended to improve the health and safety conditions of farm fields in Pakistan by government.

Keywords

Volatile Organic Compounds, Health and Safety, Agricultural Fields, Farmers.
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  • Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in Blood of Farmers and Their General Health and Safety Profile

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Authors

Syeda Amber Fatima
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
Almas Hamid
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
Ghazala Yaqub
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
Anum Javed
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
Haseeb Akram
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract


Worldwide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become concerning issue for public health. The current study was carried out to analyze the health and safety conditions in agricultural fields of a developing country. Moreover, another aim of the study was to determine pesticide (VOCs) residues in farmers working in rice, corn and cotton fields. Collected blood samples were analyzed by gas chromatography for isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, ethanol, toluene, benzene and phenol. Questionnaire and checklist surveys were also carried out to measure the different health impacts. The qualitative analysis of pesticides in blood samples of farmers showed that those working in the cotton fields had high levels of ethanol that was 90.422 ppm, one had high levels of phenol that was 26.986 ppm, one had high levels of toluene that was 1.954 ppm and two had benzene levels that were 8.105 ppm and 5.654 ppm respectively. Isopropyl alcohol was not detected in any farmer. Health issues faced by farmers were skin, eye, nose and throat irritation, headache and fatigue. It is concluded that the working conditions in Pakistan farms are not up to the mark and it is recommended to improve the health and safety conditions of farm fields in Pakistan by government.

Keywords


Volatile Organic Compounds, Health and Safety, Agricultural Fields, Farmers.

References