Unexpectedly,
subjects who had never been trained in safe pesticide use generally had lower symptom
rates than subjects who had been trained. Frequency of pesticide use and concentration
had strong association with symptoms and higher association than duration of using
pesticides as rice farmer, duration of each pesticide applying, number of pesticide mixed,
main duty in handling, and method of pesticide use. Findings suggested presence of a
sensitive subgroup, who developed symptoms quickly after starting to apply pesticides.
Self-protective behaviors during application were less strongly associated with symptom
rates than were such behaviors before and after application. Among the 280 subjects with
any symptoms in the last year, a substantial proportion (42 subjects, 15.0%) had symptoms
persisting after most recent reported pesticide use.