[Children's exposure to pesticides in Brazil: a scoping review].

Abstract

The study of health impacts associated with exposure to pesticides requires assessment of exposure. The present study examined, through a scoping review, how children's exposure to pesticides has been evaluated in Brazil. The bibliographic research was carried out in the following databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), Web of Science and FSTA (Food Science and Technology Abstracts). Among the 34 studies included in this scope review, was observed that 11 used questionnaires to assess the degree of exposure to pesticides; 12 used biomarkers; 04 analyses of the presence of pesticide residues in food and 11 indirect measures of population's exposure such as information on per capita pesticide consumption. There are 04 studies that simultaneously used questionnaire and biomarker. The relevance of studies with the simultaneous use of questionnaire and biomarkers is highlighted for the establishment of exposure index and for the early identification of the potential harm to the health of a certain agent and minimization of risks. As result of this work, it encourages the advancement of science regarding the assessment of children's exposure to pesticides.