The estimation of pesticide exposure in depression scores: in case of Korean orchard farmers

Abstract

We investigated the cases of depression in farmers associated with pesticide exposure. The group of farmers numbered 82, mostly living in the Western region of South Korea (43 male cases, mean age 51.1 +/- A 9.1 years, 39 female cases, mean age 49.4 +/- A 9.1 years). We traced the residential effect on two groups living inside of the orchard compared to those outside, the duration of farming, and the yearly frequency of pesticide spraying. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2-Depression (MMPI-D) scale were employed as the vehicle in measuring depression. No difference was traced in the residential effect, in terms of the BDI (11.9 +/- A 8.6 vs. 11.4 +/- A 7.2, p = 0.38) and the MMPI1-D (52.9 +/- A 8.9 vs. 53.2 +/- A 8.1, p = 0.44) scales. The MMPI-D score showed a positive correlation with alcohol drinking (p < 0.05), the years of farming (p < 0.01), history of intoxication (p < 0.01), yearly frequency of pesticide spraying (p < 0.05), and the BDI score (p < 0.05). In conclusion, personal exposure to pesticide spraying was presumed to be associated with the development of depression in farmers.