Children exposure to agrotoxic: an integrative review

Abstract

Agriculture represents an important sector in the global economy and to increase productivity, pesticides are utilized. Thus, exposure to these chemicals and possible health damage has become a public health problem. Children are particularly vulnerable to exposure to pesticides due to developmental factors, diet, and physiology. The objective of this study was to perform an integrative review using the PubMed database to survey and analyze the scientific publications of the last five years about children’s exposure to pesticides. After the screening, 32 studies were selected according to pre-established criteria. The articles were summarized based on the objectives, methods, and results. The study designs of the articles were: 15 cross- sectional, six case-controls, five cohorts, three prospective cohorts, two observational, and one experimental. In the analyzed period, the studies evidenced the effect on children’s health due to pesticides. These health effects included micronucleus increase, oxidative DNA damage, leukemia, neurological effects, asthma, allergic rhinitis, thyroid disorders, among others. Therefore, this integrative review showed that the exposure of children to pesticides in rural areas is in fact associated with the occurrence of several health problems.

Keywords

• agroquímicos
• saúde infantil
• área rural