Philipp Staudacher

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Staudacher

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Philipp

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0000-0001-8314-1519

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Publications 1 - 10 of 14

Organophosphate and carbamate insecticide exposure is related to lung function change among smallholder farmers: A prospective study
Hansen, Martin R.H.; Jørs, Erik; Sandbæk, Annelli; et al. (2021)
Thorax
Introduction and aim Exposure to some insecticides may cause airway obstruction, but existing evidence is limited by cross-sectional designs and inadequate confounder control. We investigated the relation between organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and pulmonary function in a prospective study accounting for important confounders. Methods In a cohort of 364 smallholder farmers in Uganda (69% women), participants underwent pre-bronchodilator spirometry at baseline (September/October 2018) and at two follow-up visits (November/December 2018 and January/February 2019). Exposure to carbamate and organophosphate insecticides was assessed using haemoglobin-adjusted erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE/Hb). Less than 3% of participants were lost to follow-up. We calculated Z-scores for FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC using the Global Lung Function Initiative equations. Data were analysed in linear mixed and fixed effect models accounting for family relationships and repeated measures of exposure and outcome. Results Low AChE/Hb was significantly associated with low FEV1 Z-score in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Compared with individuals with AChE/Hb 25.90 U/g (50th percentile, reference), those with lower AChE/Hb 24.50 U/g (35th percentile) had mean FEV1 Z-score 0.045 (0.003 to 0.087) lower, and persons with higher AChE/Hb 27.30 U/g (65th percentile) had a mean FEV1 Z-score 0.043 (−0.002 to 0.087) higher compared with the reference. Similar, but numerically smaller and statistically non-significant effects were seen for Z-scores of FVC and FEV1/FVC. Conclusion Exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides may lead to lung function decline. Our results add to the growing evidence of health effects in relation to exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, underlining the importance of minimising exposure.
Health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: from framework to action, transforming challenges into opportunities
Dietler, Dominik; Leuenberger, Andrea; Bempong, Nefti-Eboni; et al. (2019)
Journal of Global Health
The critically important role of health for development was underlined in the 16th World Development Report entitled “Investing in health”, published in 1993 [1]. Put forth by the World Bank and enhanced with input from the World Health Organization (WHO), the report examined the interplay between human health, health policy, and economic development. In the period 2000-2015, health for development was strongly emphasized in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Indeed, three of the eight MDGs explicitly featured health [2]. Meanwhile, major achievements have been made in population health. For instance, average global life expectancy has increased by more than 20 years between 1950 and 2010 [3]. Yet, there are areas of unfinished business, such as reducing child mortality and improving maternal health [4]. Key vulnerable groups, such as the poorest and most isolated populations, have been left excluded and marginalized [4,5]. In addition, there are new challenges, as for instance non-communicable diseases have surpassed infectious diseases in terms of global burden [6], novel infectious threats from zoonoses [7] and anti-microbial resistance [8] have emerged, there are toxic mixtures of chemicals compromising human, animal, and ecosystem health, while climate change, urbanization, and migration have amplified health problems and vulnerabilities [9]. Taken together, there are multifactorial stresses that ask for innovative, multi-partner, integrated approaches.
Recent pesticide exposure affects sleep: A cross-sectional study among smallholder farmers in Uganda
Fuhrimann, Samuel; van den Brenk, Iris; Atuhaire, Aggrey; et al. (2022)
Environment International
Background Poorly educated smallholder farmers in low-income countries are highly exposed to pesticides. This can result in adverse mental health issues, of which sleep problems might be an underlying indicator. We aim to examine the association between sleep problems and pesticide exposure among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional survey with 253 smallholder farmers was conducted between October and December 2019. Sleep problems were assessed during the week before the visit using the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-SS). Exposure to pesticides was assessed as application days of any pesticide and as use of 2,4-D, glyphosate, mancozeb, organophosphates & carbamates, pyrethroids and other pesticides during the week and year prior to the visit. Associations were assessed using adjusted multivariable logistic regression models. Results Increased odds ratio (OR) for the sleep problem index 6-items (OR [95% Confidence Interval] 1.99 [1.04; 3.84] and 3.21 [1.33; 7.82]), sleep inadequacy (1.94 [1.04; 3.66] and 2.49 [1.05–6.22]) and snoring (3.17 [1.12; 9.41] and 4.07 [1.04; 15.14]) were observed for farmers who respectively applied pesticides up to two days and three or more days in the past week compared to farmers who did not apply during the past week. Gender-stratified analyses showed a higher OR for female applicators (4.27 [1.76–11.16]) than for male applicators (1.82 [0.91–3.79]) for the association between the sleep problem index 6-items and pesticide use in the week before the visit. Increased ORs were also observed for the association between the sleep problem index 6-item and mancozeb exposure during the past year 2.28 [1.12–4.71] and past week 2.51 [0.86–7.55] and glyphosate exposure during the past week 3.75 [1.24–11.8] compared to non-applicators. Discussion Our findings suggest an increased risk of sleep problems among smallholder farmers in a pesticide-exposure-dependent way in a low-income context. Further gender-stratified, longitudinal investigations are warranted to confirm these findings.
What agro-input dealers know, sell and say to smallholder farmers about pesticides: a mystery shopping and KAP analysis in Uganda
Staudacher, Philipp; Brugger, Curdin; Winkler, Mirko; et al. (2021)
Environmental Health
Smallholder pesticide use: Preventing health effects with the right information
Staudacher, Philipp (2021)
Pesticides are used globally in agriculture, and can have negative effects on human health and ecosystems, especially when not handled as intended. Still, an increasing number of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries are using expensive pesticide products to increase their yield. Due to their low socio-economic status and educational level, smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of yield losses, but also of those from pesticides. When confronted with pests, smallholder farmers develop a need for information and seek out appropriate sources. However, little is known about how smallholders go about this process, whether this process differs for organic and conventional pest management strategies and if farmers also focus on risks of pest management practices. Agro-input dealer are supposed to provide information on pesticide risks, but they often focus more on selling products than services. There is a knowledge gap in literature on how agro-input dealers give advice, what products they sell, whether they follow laws and recommendations on best practice, and whether their practices and shop organization prevent pesticide risk situations. This in turn leads to farmers not knowing about risks, or not considering them to be relevant. While farmers have been assessed regarding their pesticide knowledge, attitudes and practices, rarely these insights are compared across contexts, identifying differences and commonalities. This, together with a lack in pesticide training, results in farmers not always following good agricultural practices, thereby affecting their own health, their communities’ and ecosystems. These issues are not resolved in disciplinary silos, but only through cross-sectoral and participatory research and interventions. This idea of a transdisciplinary, border-crossing research project named ‘Comparative appraisal of pesticide use in tropical settings: exposure pathways, health effects and institutional determinants’ laid the foundation for this dissertation. The two study sites of the above research project were a market-oriented farming system in Zarcero County, Costa Rica and a subsistence-based farming system in Wakiso District, Uganda. In two cross-sectional surveys, this dissertation complemented a pesticide exposure and health assessment of farmers in both countries (Costa Rica in 2016, n=300 and Uganda in 2017, n =302), enrolling both farmers applying synthetic pesticides and such who follow other pest management practices. We found the majority of pesticides used in both case studies to be classified as highly hazardous by the World Health Organization. While a high awareness of negative health effects was identified, the use of personal protective equipment was rare, and hygiene and other safe use practices were not adopted by all farmers. Organic farmers were more likely to have been trained on safe pesticide use practices compared to users of synthetic pesticides. Pesticide use did not appear to drive household income. In a qualitative study in parallel to the cross-sectional survey in Uganda, we investigated pest-management information behavior from the perspective of smallholder farmers. Using an ethnographic approach, we conducted 46 semi-structured interviews and 15 on-farm observations in Wakiso District in 2017. The results indicated that farmers develop information needs when adopting new farming practices, or when presented with disruptive information (e.g. when new pests emerged), prompting farmers to seek information actively or be attentive to receiving information passively. Whether farmers used the new information depended on successful trial of the new pest management strategy, and on the credibility of the source. Furthermore, our results suggested that sources of information for conventional pesticides were well integrated into farmers’ daily lives, whereas information on organic strategies was provided through external sources (e.g. NGOs), but was not available at all times. To share the above results with the respective stakeholders in Uganda, we conducted a participatory workshop using the design thinking method. While assessing the knowledge gaps between academic and non-academic stakeholders, we found recommendations from non-academic stakeholders applying an inherently interdisciplinary and thus broader point of view, accounting for the roles of more different stakeholders in pesticide management, for example agro-input dealers and policy-makers. The non-academic knowledge was more ﬁne-grained and detailed, exemplifying how a knowledge integration is essential to avoid a gap between what researchers investigate and what practitioners need. Following new insights from this workshop, we conducted an agro-input dealer study in Central and Western Uganda in 2019. We selected a mixed methods approach, using structured questionnaires and observations to study their knowledge, attitude and practices on pesticides (n=402), shop organization (n=392) and sales interaction (n=236). Actual behavior of agro-input dealers when selling pesticides was revealed through mystery shopping with local farmers buying pesticides (n=94). The findings revealed that most dealers saw advising customers as a responsibility, while only around a quarter of mystery shoppers received unsolicited advice when buying pesticides. Observations of sales interactions showed that the focus of discussion was on product choice and price, neglecting aspects of safe use. Most shops were lacking safety equipment and a quarter of shops sold repackaged products. Agro-input dealer showed limited understanding of pesticide safety labels and active ingredients. Around half the agro-input dealers held a certificate of competency, while only a minority was able to provide a government-approved up-to-date license. In conclusion, we found that the responsibility of why pesticides are not managed, handled and applied as intended is shared throughout actor levels. Crucial information does not reach the end-user, and where it does, the appropriate tools and equipment to follow the corresponding guidelines are missing. Meanwhile, a lack of awareness from farmers as well as conflicting interests prevent agro-input dealers from providing much needed advice. We recommend to make information on safe use, as well as alternatives to pesticides more continuously available in farmers’ daily lives, by leveraging the established information channels – the agro-input dealers and agricultural extension. Professionalization of both pesticide sellers and users allows to manage the negative effects of pesticides over the entire product life cycle, from purchase, via storage and application to residual and waste management. Bridging gaps and improving coordination and collaboration between stakeholders is crucial to align practice, research and policy in their quest for reaching a transition towards sustainable agriculture.
Long-Term Neurological and Psychological Distress Symptoms among Smallholder Farmers in Costa Rica with a History of Acute Pesticide Poisoning
Farnham, Andrea; Fuhrimann, Samuel; Staudacher, Philipp; et al. (2021)
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Studies suggest that acute pesticide poisonings (APP) may be linked with long‐term neurological effects. To examine long‐term neurological and psychological distress symptoms associated with having experienced an APP, we conducted a cross‐sectional study of 300 conventional and organic smallholder farmers from Zarcero County, Costa Rica, May–August 2016. We collected self‐reported data on sociodemographic characteristics, occupational history, pesticide exposure, APPs, neurological and psychological distress symptoms (using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)). Adjusted logistic regression models were fit. A total of 14% of the farmers (98% male) reported experiencing at least one APP during their lifetime. Self‐reported APP was associated with neurological symptoms during the 12 months prior to interview (e.g., fainting (Odds Ratio: 7.48, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.83, 30.74), shaking hands (3.50; 1.60, 7.60), numbness/tingling in hands or feet (3.23; 1.66, 6.32), insomnia (2.53; 1.34, 4.79), accelerated heartrate (2.42; 1.03, 5.47), dizziness (2.38; 1.19, 4.72), increased irritability/anger (2.37; 1.23, 4.55), low energy (2.33; 1.23, 4.46), and difficulty concentrating (2.01; 1.05, 3.85)). Farmers who reported an APP in the ten years prior to interview experienced increased odds of abnormal BSI scores for hostility (4.51; 1.16, 17.70) and paranoid ideation (3.76; 0.99, 18.18). Having experienced an APP may be associated with long‐term neurological and psychological distress symptoms.
Stream microbial communities and ecosystem functioning show complex responses to multiple stressors in wastewater
Burdon, Francis J.; Bai, Yaohui; Reyes, Marta; et al. (2020)
Global Change Biology
Multiple anthropogenic drivers are changing ecosystems globally, with a disproportionate and intensifying impact on freshwater habitats. A major impact of urbanization are inputs from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Initially designed to reduce eutrophication and improve water quality, WWTPs increasingly release a multitude of micropollutants (MPs; i.e., synthetic chemicals) and microbes (including antibiotic‐resistant bacteria) to receiving environments. This pollution may have pervasive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Viewed through multiple lenses of macroecological and ecotoxicological theory, we combined field, flume, and laboratory experiments to determine the effects of wastewater (WW) on microbial communities and organic‐matter processing using a standardized decomposition assay. First, we conducted a mensurative experiment sampling 60 locations above and below WWTP discharges in 20 Swiss streams. Microbial respiration and decomposition rates were positively influenced by WW inputs via warming and nutrient enrichment, but with a notable exception: WW decreased the activation energy of decomposition, indicating a “slowing” of this fundamental ecosystem process in response to temperature. Second, next‐generation sequencing indicated that microbial community structure below WWTPs was altered, with significant compositional turnover, reduced richness, and evidence of negative MP influences. Third, a series of flume experiments confirmed that although diluted WW generally has positive influences on microbial‐mediated processes, the negative effects of MPs are “masked” by nutrient enrichment. Finally, transplant experiments suggested that WW‐borne microbes enhance decomposition rates. Taken together, our results affirm the multiple stressor paradigm by showing that different aspects of WW (warming, nutrients, microbes, and MPs) jointly influence ecosystem functioning in complex ways. Increased respiration rates below WWTPs potentially generate ecosystem “disservices” via greater carbon evasion from streams and rivers. However, toxic MP effects may fundamentally alter ecological scaling relationships, indicating the need for a rapprochement between ecotoxicological and macroecological perspectives.
Pesticides monitoring in surface water of a subsistence agricultural catchment in Uganda using passive samplers
Oltramare, Christelle; Weiss, Frederik T.; Staudacher, Philipp; et al. (2023)
Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Pesticides are intensely used in the agricultural sector worldwide including smallholder farming. Poor pesticide use practices in this agronomic setting are well documented and may impair the quality of water resources. However, empirical data on pesticide occurrence in water bodies of tropical smallholder agriculture is scarce. Many available data are focusing on apolar organochlorine compounds which are globally banned. We address this gap by studying the occurrence of a broad range of more modern pesticides in an agricultural watershed in Uganda. During 2.5 months of the rainy season in 2017, three passive sampler systems were deployed at five locations in River Mayanja to collect 14 days of composite samples. Grab samples were taken from drinking water resources. In these samples, 27 compounds out of 265 organic pesticides including 60 transformation products were detected. In the drinking water resources, we detected eight pesticides and two insecticide transformation products in low concentrations between 1 and 50 ng/L. Also, in the small streams and open fetch ponds, detected concentrations were generally low with a few exceptions for the herbicide 2,4-D and the fungicide carbendazim exceeding 1 ug/L. The widespread occurrence of chlorpyrifos posed the largest risk for macroinvertebrates. The extensive detection of this compound and its transformation product 3,4,5-trichloro-2-pyridinol was unexpected and called for a better understanding of the use and fate of this pesticide.
Exposure to cholinesterase inhibiting insecticides and blood glucose level in a population of Ugandan smallholder farmers
Hansen, Martin R. H.; Jors, Erik; Sandbaek, Annelli; et al. (2020)
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. OBJECTIVES: The risk of diabetes mellitus may be elevated among persons exposed to some pesticides, including cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates). The objective of this study was to investigate how acetylcholinesterase activity was associated with mean blood glucose levels among smallholder farmers in Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a short-term follow-up study among 364 smallholder farmers in Uganda. Participants were examined three times from September 2018 to February 2019. At each visit, we measured glycosylated haemoglobin A (HbA1c) as a measure of long-term average blood glucose levels. Exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides was quantified using erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase normalised by haemoglobin (AChE/Hb). For a subgroup of participants, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was also available. We analysed HbA1c and FPG versus AChE/Hb in linear mixed and fixed effect models adjusting for age, sex, physical activity level, and consumption of fruits and vegetables, alcohol and tobacco. RESULTS: Contrary to our hypothesis, our mixed effect models showed significant correlation between low AChE/Hb and low HbA1c. Adjusted mean HbA1c was 0.74 (95% CI 0.17 to 1.31) mmol/mol lower for subjects with AChE/Hb=24.3 U/g (35th percentile) compared with subjects with AChE/Hb=25.8 U/g (50th percentile). Similar results were demonstrated for FPG. Fixed effect models showed less clear correlations for between-phase changes in AChE/Hb and HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not clearly support a causal link between exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides and elevated blood glucose levels (expressed as HbA1c and FPG), but results should be interpreted with caution due to the risk of reverse causality.
Comparative Analysis of Pesticide Use Determinants Among Smallholder Farmers From Costa Rica and Uganda
Staudacher, Philipp; Fuhrimann, Samuel; Farnham, Andrea; et al. (2020)
Environmental Health Insights
Pesticides are used globally in agriculture and pose a threat to the health of farmers, communities, and the environment. Smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries have generally a low socio-economic status and educational level. Consequently, they are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts of pesticides on their health, yields, or land. In a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices study, we compared the pest management practices between a market-oriented farming system in Zarcero County, Costa Rica, and a subsistence-based farming system in Wakiso District, Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among smallholder farmers from Costa Rica (n = 300) in 2016 and from Uganda (n = 302) in 2017. We enrolled conventional and organic farmers, but also farmers with mixed practices and non-applicators of any pest management strategy. We found that the majority of pesticides used in both case studies are classified as highly hazardous by the World Health Organization. While more than 90% of smallholder farmers from both countries were aware of the negative health effects of pesticide exposure, <11% in Costa Rica and <2% in Uganda reported using personal protective equipment every time they handled or applied pesticides. Hygiene and other safe use practices were not adopted by all farmers (<61%), especially among farmers applying more hazardous pesticides. Conventional farmers from Costa Rica (14%) and Uganda (19%) reported disposing pesticide residuals into rivers. Using a logistic regression we found that organic farmers were more likely to having been trained on safe pesticide use practices. Using a robust regression, we observed that smallholder household income was primarily driven by education and not directly by the use of synthetic pesticides. Our results suggest that negative effects of pesticides can be managed over the whole life cycle, from purchase, via storage and application to residual and waste management by fostering professionalization of farmers. We advise future safe use and handling interventions to consider the pesticide use-related socioeconomic and demographic findings highlighted in this paper.

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