Citation

Vergara AE, Fuortes L. Int. J. Occup. Environ. Health 1998; 4(3): 199-201.

Affiliation

The University of Iowa, Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, S-2800 Steindler Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Maney Pub.)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10026482

Abstract

A review of one year's workers' compensation records from the Costa Rican National Insurance Institute was performed in a banana plantation region to determine rates of and risk factors for agrichemical poisonings. Review of 9,060 medical records revealed that the most commonly reported agrichemical-related injuries (n=800) were chemical burns (28%) and acute intoxications (21%). Other agrichemical-related injuries included eye injuries, chemical dermatoses, and chronic fungal infections. The incidences and types of injuries differed between male and female workers and workers of different age groups. Older female workers were more likely to report chemical dermatoses. Young male workers were more likely to experience acute intoxication. These differences seem to be attributable to divisions of labor by gender and age among plantation workers.

Language: en