Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorLekei, Elikana E
dc.contributor.authorNgowi, Aiwerasia V
dc.contributor.authorLondon, Leslie
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-30T03:51:55Z
dc.date.available2015-07-30T03:51:55Z
dc.date.issued2014-10-07
dc.date.updated2015-01-15T17:57:34Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background Approximately 300 pesticide retailers are currently registered in Tanzania. Inadequate knowledge and unsafe handling practices among retailers may contribute to human pesticide exposure and environmental contamination. This study investigated pesticide retailers’ qualifications, work experience, safety practices and the products distributed so as to identify opportunities for preventing Acute Pesticide Poisoning (APP). Methodology In 2005, employees of pesticide retail firms in six Tanzanian towns were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire and physical inspection of premises. In addition, information on products distributed in 2004 and 2005 was collected from Arusha and Arumeru firms to assess potential risk posed for end-users. Results More than half of the participating firms (58.6%) were not registered. Most agents on sale in Arusha and Arumeru were hazardous products including WHO Class I and II products (61.7%) and the mean number of cholinesterase inhibiting agents was 5.8 (range 2–8). Major deficiencies found included semi-trained staff (52%), lack of first-aid kits (38.6%), repacking and decanting of pesticides into smaller unlabelled containers (25.3%), lack of fire-fighting equipment (22.6%) and distribution of unregistered products (9.3%). Compared to unregistered companies, those companies that were registered were more likely to report practicing safe container disposal (40% versus 19%; p = 0.06) and to have an absence of leaking containers (36% versus 15%; p = 0.04). Conclusion Pesticide distribution in Tanzania was accompanied by many unsafe practices that may contribute to the burden from APP, not only affecting the distributors but also farmers who buy and use these products. Market pressures appear to be encouraging decanting of pesticides to enable retailers to make profits. Registration of firms appears to be associated with safer practices. Comprehensive interventions to strengthen enforcement mechanisms by increasing the number of pesticide inspectors, ensuring adequate financial support for enforcement activities and providing training opportunities for pesticide retailers and the end users are strongly recommended.
dc.identifier.apacitationLekei, E. E., Ngowi, A. V., & London, L. (2014). Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania. <i>Environmental Health</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13581en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationLekei, Elikana E, Aiwerasia V Ngowi, and Leslie London "Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania." <i>Environmental Health</i> (2014) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13581en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationLekei, E. E., Ngowi, A. V., & London, L. (2014). Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania. Environmental health, 13(1), 79.
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Lekei, Elikana E AU - Ngowi, Aiwerasia V AU - London, Leslie AB - Abstract Background Approximately 300 pesticide retailers are currently registered in Tanzania. Inadequate knowledge and unsafe handling practices among retailers may contribute to human pesticide exposure and environmental contamination. This study investigated pesticide retailers’ qualifications, work experience, safety practices and the products distributed so as to identify opportunities for preventing Acute Pesticide Poisoning (APP). Methodology In 2005, employees of pesticide retail firms in six Tanzanian towns were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire and physical inspection of premises. In addition, information on products distributed in 2004 and 2005 was collected from Arusha and Arumeru firms to assess potential risk posed for end-users. Results More than half of the participating firms (58.6%) were not registered. Most agents on sale in Arusha and Arumeru were hazardous products including WHO Class I and II products (61.7%) and the mean number of cholinesterase inhibiting agents was 5.8 (range 2–8). Major deficiencies found included semi-trained staff (52%), lack of first-aid kits (38.6%), repacking and decanting of pesticides into smaller unlabelled containers (25.3%), lack of fire-fighting equipment (22.6%) and distribution of unregistered products (9.3%). Compared to unregistered companies, those companies that were registered were more likely to report practicing safe container disposal (40% versus 19%; p = 0.06) and to have an absence of leaking containers (36% versus 15%; p = 0.04). Conclusion Pesticide distribution in Tanzania was accompanied by many unsafe practices that may contribute to the burden from APP, not only affecting the distributors but also farmers who buy and use these products. Market pressures appear to be encouraging decanting of pesticides to enable retailers to make profits. Registration of firms appears to be associated with safer practices. Comprehensive interventions to strengthen enforcement mechanisms by increasing the number of pesticide inspectors, ensuring adequate financial support for enforcement activities and providing training opportunities for pesticide retailers and the end users are strongly recommended. DA - 2014-10-07 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1476-069X-13-79 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Environmental Health LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania TI - Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13581 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13581
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-13-79
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationLekei EE, Ngowi AV, London L. Pesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania. Environmental Health. 2014; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13581.en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License*
dc.rights.holderLekei et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0*
dc.sourceEnvironmental Healthen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.ehjournal.net
dc.subject.otherPublic Healthen_ZA
dc.titlePesticide retailers’ knowledge and handling practices in selected towns of Tanzania
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetype
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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