A Chemical Safety Intervention Program Designed to Reduce Occupational Exposure among Vector Control Operators in Bangkok, Thailand

Vector control operators (VCOs) face occupational risks due to pesticide and chemical exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a chemical safety intervention program designed to reduce occupational exposure among VCOs in Bangkok, Thailand.

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in six Bangkok areas among 96 male operators. The operators were divided into two groups: the intervention group received intervention, and the control did not. General participant information, including personal behavior and environmental working conditions, were collected via standardized questionnaires. Urine samples were collected to evaluate biological exposure. A linear mixed model and repeated measure ANOVA were used to compare the differences in outcome measures between the two groups at a baseline and two follow-ups (follow-up 1 and follow-up 2).

At the baseline measure, both groups had similar sociodemographic characteristics, personal habits, and environmental working conditions. After the intervention program, the intervention group had effectively reduced difference means for 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) and o-cresol. There were also statistically significant differences between the groups at follow-ups 1 and 2.

The findings suggest that the introduction and implementation of chemical safety programs could reduce biological exposure and prevent health symptoms due to chemical exposure among VCOs.