Elvis D. Okoffo|Moses Mensah|Benedicta Y. Fosu-Mensah
Pesticides exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana
University of Ghana|Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology|University of Ghana
hazards pesticide exposure growing concern globally increase susceptibility farmers pesticide intoxication due lack knowledge regarding safe proper pesticide handling aim study evaluate cocoa farmers pesticide exposure assessing ways store pesticides operational habits exhibited pesticide application use personal protective equipment ppe pesticide application brong ahafo region ghana two hundred forty 240 cocoa farmers randomly selected interviewed using structured questionnaire majority farmers aware negative effects pesticides health environment well handled despite awareness farmers handle pesticides care adhere use ppe hence increasing risks danger exposure pesticides storage pesticides bedrooms reported 225 farmers indication high risk pesticides exposure direct inhalation cocoa farmers study area exhibited operational habits eating drinking water alcohol smoking cigarette tobacco pipes chewing gum sticks talking using mouth remove blockages sprayer nozzles stirring pesticides bare hands among others pesticides application survey revealed 35 farmers put full ppe 45 put partial ppe combination following caphat respirator goggle rubber glove overall wellington boot rubber boot pesticides application hand 20 farmers study area applied pesticides without wearing ppe practices expose farmers adverse health risks factors influenced farmers decision use ppe included farming experience age farmer access extension service availability chemical shop farm size educational level results indicate high risks exposure cocoa farmers study area toxicity health hazards pesticides due mishandling habits exhibited pesticide application need improve habits safe use handling pesticides among farmers education training also need education use ppe pesticides application avoid exposure health hazards