Sara Abou Ibrahim, Reem Naji, Hanaa Zeineldeen, Wissam Ghach
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
AbstractThis study aims to assess the effectiveness of the pesticide labels (pictograms and color codes) and the technical sign-related practices among the farming community in Lebanon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and October 2022 among 104 farmers from three Lebanese provinces. An Arabic survey (score-based questionnaire) was conducted to evaluate the farmers’ levels of understanding the pesticide labels (pictograms and color codes) and relevant practices to pesticide labels. Spearman correlation and One-Way ANOVA were applied to determine the statistical correlation between farmers’ understanding and practice levels and their significant differences in gender, age, provinces, educational level, and attendance of training programs. Results: It was found that the majority of the participants showed moderate levels of understanding (71.2%) and practices (75%). Spearman’s correlation analysis concluded a weak correlation between the understanding and performance levels (p < 0.05). Comparative analyses showed higher levels of label pictograms’ understanding and label-related practices with a significant difference (p < 0.05) among younger and well-educational farmers. However, training programs significantly enhanced the farmers’ practices only. Incidence of irritations-to-poisoning symptoms was self-reported as consequences of misinterpretations and misuse of pesticides. Conclusion: The study findings highlighted the limited effectiveness of pictograms and color codes in Lebanon and thereby highlighted the necessity of training programs addressing the knowledge of technical signs among farmers.Keywords: Pesticide labelpictogramsunderstandingpracticeslebanon Author contributionsWissam Ghach, and Sara About Ibrahim had contributed to the conceptualization, Manuscript writing, content review, data analysis, result interpretation, and project supervision. Hana Zeineldeen, and Rim Naji had contributed to project administration, recruitment of farmers, data collection, and manuscript proof reading.Disclosure statementThe authors report that there are no competing interests to declare.Additional informationFundingThis study was supported by the Modern University for Business and Science and the Canadian University Dubai.
期刊介绍:
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment provides a resource for professionals researching and assessing environmental hazards to both humans and ecological systems. The editors expect papers published to be original, of sound science, purposeful for risk analysis (assessment, communication, management) and related areas, well written (in English), and a contribution to the scientific literature.
The journal''s emphasis is on publication of papers that contribute to improvements in human and ecological health. The journal is an international, fully peer-reviewed publication that publishes eight issues annually. The journal''s scope includes scientific and technical information and critical analysis in the following areas:
-Quantitative Risk Assessment-
Comparative Risk Assessment-
Integrated Human & Ecological Risk Assessment-
Risk Assessment Applications to Human & Ecosystems Health-
Exposure Assessment-
Environmental Fate Assessment-
Multi-Media Assessment-
Hazard Assessment-
Environmental Epidemiology-
Statistical Models and Methods-
Methods Development/Improvement-
Toxicokinetics Modeling-
Animal to Human Extrapolation-
Risk Perception/Communication-
Risk Management-
Regulatory Issues