Assessment of pesticide handling and use practices and associated health and safety concerns among rice farmers, in Northern Iran

Examination of farmers' behaviors regarding pesticide application is crucial because of their influential impacts on exposure levels and general health. This research assessed pesticide-related behaviors among 151 rice farmers in Gilan Province, Iran, with a focus on their behaviors before, during, and after pesticide spraying and related health symptoms. The findings indicated that government agencies and pesticide sellers were the main sources of information on pesticides for farmers. About 83% of farmers used storerooms for the safekeeping of pesticides, while only 55% of them reported using personal protective equipment. A majority of farmers followed safety measures after spraying. Of the types of personal protective equipment, masks were the most used (80%). Neurological (35%) and respiratory (34.4%) symptoms were the most reported symptoms. Neglecting to shower was associated with ear, nose, and throat symptoms (p = 0.014), and failure to change clothes was linked to neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms (respectively, p = 0.001, p = 0.006). Eating food after spraying was associated with neurological, urological, and skin symptoms (respectively, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001), eating vegetables after spraying was linked to the presence of digestive symptoms (p = 0.047), and drinking water after spraying was associated with musculoskeletal symptoms (p = 0.001). Targeted education campaigns, in addition to direct monitoring and continuous research, should be conducted among farming communities in northern Iran to encourage the use of safe spraying behaviors.