Pesticide Use Practices and Cardiovascular-Metabolic Health Among Rice Farmers in Southeastern Nigeria: A Secondary Analysis of Data from Companion Studies
| Author | Odochi Chukwu Ogbu | en |
| Author | Raphael C. Anakwue | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-06-30 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Smallholder rice farmers in Nigeria are frequently exposed to herbicides, raising concerns regarding potential cardiovascular and metabolic health risks. However, evidence on associations between specific herbicides, subclinical inflammation, and cardiac alterations in African farming populations remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to characterize patterns of herbicide use, occupational safety practices, and lifestyle factors among smallholder rice farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, and to describe the association of specific herbicide exposures with subclinical inflammatory and electrocardiographic indicators of cardiovascular risk. Methods: This secondary analysis integrated inflammatory marker and electrocardiographic data from separate companion manuscripts currently under review ("Electrocardiographic Abnormalities Among Pesticide-Exposed Rice Farmers in Southeast Nigeria," and "Biomarkers Profile of Subclinical Cardio-Metabolic Dysfunction in Pesticide-Exposed Rice Farmers") with newly collected questionnaire data on herbicide use patterns, safety practices, and self-reported health outcomes among 48 rice farmers and 39 nonfarming controls in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α]) and electrocardiographic parameters (PR interval, QRS duration, and T-axis) were descriptively stratified by specific herbicide exposures. Results: Herbicide use was dominated by oxadiazon (28.09% for the Riceforce formulation and 11.24% for Ronstar), pendimethalin (24.72%), and butachlor (22.47% for Cleweed and 13.48% for Butaclear). Self-reported cardiovascular conditions were more prevalent among farmers (35.4%) than among controls (20.5%). Descriptive stratification of inflammatory and cardiac conduction indicators from the companion study showed that farmers exposed to oxadiazon (Riceforce) had the highest mean CRP (12.3 ± 1.2 ng/mL), IL-6 (14.1 ± 0.8 pg/mL), and PR interval (241.2 ± 14.3 ms) compared with controls (5.4 ± 0.9 ng/mL, 8.2 ± 0.5 pg/mL, and 158.3 ± 12.1 ms, respectively; all P < 0.001). Conclusions: Occupational herbicide exposure among rice farmers in southeastern Nigeria may contribute to early cardiovascular risk, compounded by lifestyle factors and insufficient safety practices. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including pesticide safety training, integrated weed management, and community-based health surveillance. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jkums-169825 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jkums/articles/169825 | en |
| Keyword | Herbicide Exposure | en |
| Keyword | Inflammatory Biomarkers | en |
| Keyword | Electrocardiography | en |
| Keyword | Cardiovascular Risk | en |
| Keyword | Rice Farmers | en |
| Keyword | Nigeria | en |
| Keyword | Secondary Analysis | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Pesticide Use Practices and Cardiovascular-Metabolic Health Among Rice Farmers in Southeastern Nigeria: A Secondary Analysis of Data from Companion Studies | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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