Occupational Exposure to Pesticides in Finland

Abstract

The annual use of pesticides in Finland counted as ingredients has been around 2000 tons from the seventies. Herbicides, which are mostly used in agriculture, are almost 80% of the total use of pesticides. Amount of workers occupationally exposed to pesticides is about 170000. Farmers are the largest group among exposed persons. Their number is around 50000 but their exposure periods last only for few days every summer. In greenhouses, around 20000, and in forestry, nearly 1500 workers are exposed to pesticides with more regular and longer lasting exposure than that of farmers. In the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases, 79 cases caused by pesticides were reported during the years 1972-1991. Most of the cases were from greenhouses, agriculture and forestry. Typical symptoms in reports were toxic eczema or acute symptoms. Occupational exposure of workers to pesticides in Finland has been mainly studied by the Kuopio Regional Institute of Occupational Health since 1978. Exposure levels have been evaluated by occupational hygienic measurements and biological monitoring. Field studies done in agriculture, forestry and greenhouses revealed that exposure of the workers in most cases is at low level. Skin contamination is the main factor of exposure. Therefore, the use of personal protective clothing is essential for minimising exposure. Situations, where risk for exposure is high, are the dilution of formulation before spraying, preparation of equipment on fields, and contamination of skin when the work is started immediately after applications on fields and in greenhouses.