Hazardous behaviours and health state, according to the exposure duration, among 431 cotton-farmers

Introduction
In year 2003 the results of a study carried out among cotton-growers in Sotouboua prefecture, the central area of Togo had justified the reinforcement of the preventive measures concerning the chemical risks related to the use of pesticides. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of these measures with the passing years.

Methods
Three groups of people were selected according to the duration of exposure to pesticides: 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and more years. The nature of used pesticides, the prevention practice and the health state of the growers were analyzed.

Results
A progressive and significative decreasing in use of organochlorates was noticed with increasing in use of organophosphates or organophosphates associated with synthetic pyrethrinoids. Hazardous behaviours, for the three groups, were common occurrences and especially the wearing of individual protection equipment was never observed. Cutaneous poisoning with dermatological disorders was very frequent: respectively 76, 88, and 90 per cent. After-effects were present, above all neurological ones with the lowest prevalence for the third group (significative difference).

Discussion
From the results of this study, to set up an effective prevention, it appeared necessary to modify legal, technical, medical measures and to promote, as it’s possible, the methods of biological farming.