GARDENERS’ ATTITUDES AND SAFETY BEHAVIORS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES

Abstract

Introduction: Gardening and agriculture in Egypt relies extensively on pesticides to enhance crop yield and quality. However, little is known about the attitudes and behaviors of Egyptian gardeners towards agricultural pesticides. Aim of Work: To assess the knowledge and awareness of gardeners about the hazards of pesticide use and explore their attitudes and safety behaviors towards pesticide. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey has been done through convenience sample of 48 gardeners from Cairo and Giza governorates in Egypt. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of four sections: demographic information, any present complaints (as skin irritation, chest pain, nausea…. etc), knowledge and awareness of pesticide hazards, attitudes towards pesticide use, and safety practices when applying pesticides. Results: The majority of gardeners had above primary school education and was married. Prevalence of pesticides use among gardeners was 93.8%, with 75% of them purchased pesticides from private retailers and only 45.8% of gardeners had received previous training on pesticides application. Regarding attitudes towards pesticide use, 56.3 % of gardeners relied on their experience when selecting active ingredients and only 75% of them read and followed instructions on pesticide containers. While 68.8 % of gardeners chose the right time and weather for pesticide application, just 56.3 % could discriminate forbidden pesticides. Regarding perceived risks, a significant proportion of gardeners did not associate pesticide use with environmental problems or human illnesses. Common health effects reported by gardeners included skin irritation, chest pain, and nausea. Safety behaviors detected showed that 54.2 % of gardeners didn’t use proper personal protective equipment during pesticide spraying and 75 % didn’t store or dispose empty containers appropriately. Conclusion and Recommendations: The present study highlights knowledge gaps, attitudes, and unsafe behaviors among Egyptian gardeners regarding pesticide use. Findings suggest a need for targeted education and training programs to enhance awareness of pesticide hazards and promote safe practices among gardeners in Egypt