On September 22nd at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS), the Secretary of Health of the State of Sinaloa through the State Commission for Protection Against Health Risks of Sinaloa (COEPRISS) in collaboration with the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and Crop Protection, Science and Technology (PROCCYT) through the Toxicological Information Service (SINTOX) carried out the course “Diagnosis and treatment in case of exposure by phytosanitary products”.

The presidium table was integrated by great personalities; Dr. Rosa Amelia Avendaño Castro, from SSA; Architect Rene Sanchez Mendoza, from COEPRISS representing the commissioner, Eng. Randy G. Ross Alvarez: Dr. Luis Alberto Gonzalez Garcia, director of the National Center for Toxicology and Toxicology (COEPRISS), and Dr. Luis Alberto Gonzalez Garcia, director of the National Center for Toxicology and Toxicology (SINTOX). Luis Alberto González García, director of the Faculty of Medicine of the UAS; Dr. Jose Luis Alatorre Patron, of the AARC, as well as the presenter herself, Dr. Nayeli Medina Martínez, coordinator of the Toxicological Information Service (SINTOX).

This workshop was mainly focused on staff of hospital medical units, IMSS personnel, Mexican Red Cross, Civil Protection, the medical staff of agricultural fields, and medical and nursing students, with the objective of, in case of an emergency due to poisoning by phytosanitary products, to identify the characteristic symptoms, to be able to make the diagnosis and timely treatment of an intoxicated patient.

This course was also attended by agricultural personnel (production managers, warehouse managers, social responsibility managers), agricultural producers, and representatives of the Veggies from Mexico community, among others.

The course began with the topic of the Good Use and Management of Agrochemicals (BUMA); how to identify the phytosanitary products approved by the authorities through the COFEPRIS website, intoxication routes, toxicological classification, what to do in case of an emergency, among others.

There is a great variety of phytosanitary products, with different toxicological classification, so the timely identification of the symptoms of intoxication are crucial to apply the corresponding treatment.

As a first instance, the proper way to reduce these cases is through the implementation of good practices during the handling of agrochemicals, this will help greatly to reduce cases of poisoning, for example, products approved by the competent authority must be purchased, since they have already been subjected to research to determine their effectiveness and health risks; it is important to follow the instructions of trained personnel and the instructions provided on the labels, technical data sheets and safety data sheets of the products; do not eat, do not drink water, do not smoke during the handling of these inputs, as well as after applying them without first having carried out hygienic practices. More information on the handling of agrochemicals can be found in the Mexican Official Occupational Health and Safety Standard number NOM-003-STPS-1999.

Por: Claudio Román Mosqueda

Auditor Interno – Veggies From Mexico