Respiratory Symptoms among Crop Farmers Exposed to Agricultural Pesticide in Three Rural Communities in South Western Nigeria: A Preliminary Study

these chemical substances is the pesticide, which is a mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating the effect of any pest of plants and animals.[1] Agricultural pesticides may appear innocent and safe, but they are complex chemical compounds with very serious effects on humans and exposure over time can be harmful. Pesticide exposure can occur through four routes: Mouth, skin, inhalation into the lungs and the eyes.[1,2] Inhalation exposure to pesticide can occur while mixing granular and powder forms of pesticides, spraying of the solvent and during the burning of empty containers. Inhalation exposure provides the fastest route of exposure into the bloodstream.[1] The use of pesticide is associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma, lung cance