BioMed Research International
Volume 2015, Article ID 241516, 10 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/241516
Pesticides and Health in Vegetable Production in Kenya
Department of Agribusiness Management and Trade, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844–00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Received 10 September 2015; Accepted 16 November 2015
Academic Editor: Fernando Barbosa Junior
Copyright © 2015 Ibrahim Macharia. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
This paper investigates the determinants of pesticide-related cost of illness (COI) and acute symptoms, using a balanced panel of 363 farmers interviewed from seven major vegetable producing districts of Kenya. Finding shows that the incidences of pesticide-related health impairments have increased. Variation in number of symptoms and symptom severity significantly explained COI. The personal protective equipment (PPE), education level, record keeping, and geographical location considerably determined health impairments. Encouraging the proper use of PPE and record keeping of pesticide use could greatly reduce poisoning cases and COI.