Agricultural Pesticide Management in Thailand: Situation and Population Health Risk

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Parinya Panuwet, Emory University; Wattasit Siriwong, Chulalongkorn University; Tippawan Prapamontol, Chiang Mai University; P Barry Ryan, Emory University; Nancy Fiedler, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Mark G. Robson, Rutgers University; Dana Boyd Barr, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-03
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2011.12.005
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Environmental Science and Policy
• ISSN: 1462-9011
• Volume: 17
• Start Page: 72
• End Page: 81
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by NIH FIC ITREOH D43TW007849, UMDNJ Center for Environmental Exposures and Disease, NIEHS P30ES005022, NIH R21 ES018722, and NIH RC1ES018299-01 and 5R21ES015465-02.
• Keywords: health risk; Thailand; management; regulation; legislation; exposure; pesticides
• Research Categories: Environmental Sciences; Health Sciences, Public Health; Agriculture, Food Science and Technology

Abstract

As an agricultural country and one of the world’s major food exporters, Thailand relies heavily on the use of pesticides to protect crops and increase yields. During the past decade, the Kingdom of Thailand has experienced an approximate four-fold increase in pesticide use. This increase presents a challenge for the Royal Thai Government in effectively managing and controlling pesticide use based upon the current policies and legal infrastructure. We have reviewed several key components for managing agricultural pesticides in Thailand. One of the main obstacles to effective pesticide regulation in Thailand is the lack of a consolidated, uniform system designed specifically for pesticide management. This deficit has weakened the enforcement of existing regulations, resulting in misuse/overuse of pesticides, and consequently, increased environmental contamination and human exposure. This article provides a systematic review of how agricultural pesticides are regulated in Thailand. In addition, we provide our perspectives on the current state of pesticide management, the potential health effects of widespread, largely uncontrolled use of pesticides on the Thai people and ways to improve pesticide management in Thailand.