Cordillera farmers face risk of cancer

Eight out of 10 farmers in the Cordillera region face a great risk of acquiring cancer and other serious diseases due to the harmful effects of pesticides, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Labor Undersecretary Jose Español said almost 80 percent of the Cordilleras have been exposed to the debilitating effects of pesticides that could cause serious illnesses among farmers there in the long run.

Español said a study made by the DOLE’s Occupational Health and Safety Center (OHSC) shows that most farmers in the Cordilleras were highly exposed to "organophosphate," a widely used pesticide in the region.

"Laboratory results indicated that out of 75 blood samples taken from farmers in the Cordillera region, 55 contain (traces of) the poisonous organophosphate," Español said.

The study also indicates that half of the farmers exposed to the harmful pesticide are unmarried males belonging to the 35-55 age bracket.

Due to their exposure to the pesticide, Espanol said, the farmers have experienced muscle cramps, weakness and respiratory irritation.

He added that based on the study, continuous exposure to the hazardous chemical can cause acute poisoning, genetic abnormality, cancer and recurring diseases of the reproductive system.

Improper farming practices and inappropriate working clothes, he said, made the farmers and their families vulnerable to the adverse effects of the pesticide.

To address this health problem, the labor department urged concerned government agencies to immediately enforce laws and regulations on the use and disposal of pesticides and more efficient use of protective instruments.

The OHSC recommended that farmers in the region be provided with additional information and training on the safe use and handling of pesticides. — Mayen Jaymalin