Search

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of the Northwestern Nicaraguan Ministry of Health surveillance system for detecting pesticide poisonings. Methods. Cases were reported to the regional department of epidemiology through daily telephone reports and through monthly consolidated reports from each of the 18 health centers of the National Health Service. Reporting forms were also distributed to the four area hospitals. Results. During June and July 1987, an epidemic of 548 pesticide poisonings was detected in northwestern Nicaragua. Seventy-seven percent of the poisonings were caused by carbofuran or methamidophos. Of the work-related cases (91% of reported poisonings), more than 80% occurred among maize farmers and on small to medium land holdings (fewer than 140 hectares). Nineteen percent of the work-related cases involved children under 16 years of age. Conclusions. Unsafe working conditions such as manual application of pesticides and the use of backpack sprayers, the introduction of a hazardous powdered formulation of carbofuran highly restricted in the developed world, and agricultural subsidies that encouraged the use of hazardous pesticides all contributed to the epidemic., Pesticide poisoning has reached epidemic proportions in developing countries because of the existence of unsafe working conditions. Each year an estimated three million people are poisoned in these countries. More than 200,000 die from pesticide poisoning that results from the existence of farm subsidies that encourage the use of pesticides, use of a hazardous mixture of powdered carbofuran, use of backpack sprayers and the spreading of pesticides by hand. The Nicaraguan Ministry of Health set up a system to receive daily and monthly reports on pesticide poisonings from 18 National Health Service centers, as well as reports from four hospitals in the area. In Jun and Jul 1987, 548 pesticide poisoning cases were reported from northwestern Nicaragua. Of these, 77% were the result of the use of carbofuran or methamidophos. More than 80% of those affected were maize farmers with fewer than 140 hectares of land; 19% of these victims were children younger than 16 years of age.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of the Northwestern Nicaraguan Ministry of Health surveillance system for detecting pesticide poisonings. Methods. Cases were reported to the regional department of epidemiology through daily telephone reports and through monthly consolidated reports from each of the 18 health centers of the National Health Service. Reporting forms were also distributed to the four area hospitals. Results. During June and July 1987, an epidemic of 548 pesticide poisoning was detected in northwestern Nicaragua. Seventy-seven percent of the poisonings were caused by carbofuran or methamidophos. Of the work-related cases (91% of reported poisonings), more than 80% occurred among maize farmers and on small to medium land holdings (fewer than 140 hectares). Nineteen percent of the work-related cases involved children under 16 years of age. Conclusions. Unsafe working conditions such as manual application of pesticides and the use of backpack sprayers, the introduction of a hazardous powdered formulation of carbofuran highly restricted in the developed world, and agricultural subsidies that encouraged the use of hazardous pesticides all contributed to the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four experiments were conducted in Nicaragua over a 3-yr period to determine the effect of whorl-stage infestations of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and Diatraea lineolata (Walker) on maize grain yields. The experiments separated the effects of period of infestation from level of infestation. Results from all experiments demonstrated that maize is more tolerant of lepidopteran infestation during early growth stages than at later stages. Infestation during mid-through latewhorl caused yield losses of 15--73% when 55-- 100% of the plants were infested with S. frugiperda.. D. lineolata infestations were highly correlated with S. frugiperda. D. lineolata infestations were highly correlated with S. frugiperda infestation. Economic injury levels ranged from 23 to 63% of the plants infested with S. frugiperda and D.lineolata over a range of potential yields, using mean yield reduction from the 4 experiments, and an average 75% insecticide effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]