Pesticides are a vital component and an integral part of modern agriculture practiced around the world. Farmers’ knowledge on their use is critical to implement effective pest control and to produce safe food. Health problems related to the use of pesticides have been reported worldwide, but in developing countries, the misuse of pesticides is regularly reported mainly in areas where vegetables and industrial crops are cultivated. This poor application, generally, if prolonged, will be induced, it will induce chronic health effects such as developmental and neurobehavioral anomalies, Farmers with Chronic Kidney Disease [1] [2] . Commonly, exposure to pesticides occurs mainly through three main routes: skin, nostrils and mouth [1] , Atabila et al. [1] reported that, with agricultural applicators, the dermal route is usually the most prominent exposure route.

The effects of pesticides on users will be greatly influenced by the use of personal protecting equipment (PPE). In tropical countries like Cameroon, heat does not always give chance for farmers to wear protective cloth. Sonchieu et al. [3] reported that in Santa agricultural area, the use of PPE is rare. Applicators usually dress poorly with their casual cloth and generally are not conscious of the toxicity risk from pesticides. Many were found having liver dysfunction in Foumbot area where this study was carried out [4] . As shown by Mohammad et al.; Pinheiro and Adissi [5] [6] farmers’ beliefs about pesticide performance are one of the most important criteria for choosing and using pesticides. It is known that the most effective pesticides are the most toxic ones to handle with a lot of care [7] . However, the inadequate use will always lead to excess amount in food. Many factors that influence this contamination are mostly human activity-dependent. The most encountered ones are pre-harvest period duration, the doses applied, and the frequency of application [6] . The time of application will mostly affect the health of the applicator that is prominently exposed to the above-cited parameters.

In Cameroon, Foumbot is known to be one of the main cropping areas in the country. Vegetables and fruits are the main crops cultivated and the National Community Driven Development Program (PNDP) [8] has brought out poor use of agricultural inputs [8] . Data indicates that high and moderate toxic pesticides are used in Foumbot. Sonchieu et al. and Tarla et al. [4] [9] reported that this involves mostly three classes of pesticides: herbicides (paraquat, diuron and glyphosate), fungicides (Ethylene-Bis-Dithiocarbamates for which the most used are maneb, zineb and macozeb), in this regard, metalaxil, which has been banned from use in Cameroon, is also frequently used; and the top applied insecticide is cypermethrin (73%) sold in various formulations alongside deltamethrin, lamda-cyalothrin. A survey conducted in the said area revealed that applicators are poorly dressed and were presenting some signs and symptoms related to pesticides effects. Many other factors were also observed which can contribute to increase the risk of exposure among applicators though they depend on their ability to safely use the agrochemicals. Some of these factors are well known: level of education, technical assistance, participation in training, experience and age [10] .

Many pesticide related diseases were reported in the area by Sonchieu et al. [4] to be directly linked to the body part which is not protected by a particular PPE. These were goggle for eyes, nose and mouth mask for nostrils and mouth, boots for feet. The symptoms observed were high levels of Aspartate Amino-Transferase (AST) and Alanine Amino-Tansferase (ALT) from the liver health, affection of the skin, eye (watering) and breathing systems dysfunction [11] .

When all these factors are taken into consideration, one can then question, what value of protective cloth applicators wear that might be consistent to avoid penetration of pesticides through any of the following routes: dermal, oral or respiratory. This study aimed at evaluating the quality of protective materials worn by farmers in Foumbot agricultural area in relation to the type of symptoms/signs they face. Results will be used to identify adequate personal protective equipment in local markets to be put at the disposal of pesticides applicators at affordable price.

Statistically, farmers have similar demographic data according to experience, longevity, level of education and sex, in all the four villages. This similarity will lead to the same spraying practices because of their common background. Tarla et al. and Sonchieu et al. [4] - [9] have reported similar information in the same areas but in different villages. This common knowledge will obviously lead to the least variation of amount of pesticide residues in various foods produced in the very area [14] . The high number of years of experience can be an indicator of either high or low exposure of the consumer because the spraying factors could have been the same during that long period in cropping activity.

Personal Protective Equipment is intended to protect users from risks that cannot be eliminated by other more effective means. The poor use of PPE by farmers has been reported by Pouokam et al. [10] . No safety glasses, safety goggles, face shield, mask air-purifying neither respiratory, nor adapted clothing was reported. Hence, pesticide sprayers of this area are exposed to direct intoxication during their activity. Liver failure, alteration of entry routes (skin, respiratory tract and eyes) have been so far reported in neighboring villages with similar agricultural practices by Sonchieu et al. [4] . The hygienic variation of body care challenge after spraying generally affects the heath of operators: the more the bathing period extends the longer the contact time and the more toxicants penetrate the body [1] . Pesticides enumerated by Sonchieu et al. (2018) [8] are also used here and are mostly involved in symptoms and signs mentioned in the study which is on the same line with the study carried-out by Mejía et al. [15] . They have effects of various routes of penetrations such as eyes (irritation, watering, etc.), skin (irritation, burning, etc.), mouth, nostrils by inhalation. Ayaz et al. [16] reported that the entry of such toxicants will reduce the level of hemoglobin among pesticide sprayers and naturally will affect the oxygen transportation, responsible for breathing difficulties observed. Since they do not use adequate protective materials, the skin will be in contact with the chemical inducing contact effect known as cutaneous melanoma and biochemical transformations can be observed [17] . This is mostly caused by dithiocarbamates group (maneb, mancozeb and zineb) [16] . The lack of personal protective equipment can also be attributed to lack of financial means as mentioned by Zephania [18] while it is highly recommended by experts. Abang et al. [19] have reported this failure as a real common issue among Cameroonian farmers.

The appropriate PPE will preserve users from intoxications. This study revealed the poor quality of clothes sprayers wear. There are normal clothes which are designed for comfortability and are not adapted to retain chemicals that penetrate the body [20] [21] . Their main protective characteristics such as permeability and absorbency towards protection from chemicals were shown to be very poor [21] . This is because they have strong hydrophilic groups (HNCOO) and hydrophilic segments leading to very high water absorption. A comparative laminated fabric chosen from local market shows better characteristics [22] . The water and vapor absorption of the said laminated fabric is low because of the shell fabric and lining as shown Bin et al. and Buzuayehu et al. [23] [24] . The Moisture Management Capacity (OMMC) index that indicates the capacity of fabrics to manage and transfer liquid was not measured but according to research conducted by Marolleau et al. and Hassan et al. [25] [26] [27] , this index will be poor.

This study that was intended to bring out the safety of pesticide users shows that farmers are really exposed. The protective clothes they wear are very permeable and have high water and vapor absorbency inducing long term exposure or contact factor. However, a locally laminated cloth was identified with good characteristics (poor water and vapor absorption; low permeability) and can be analyzed for comfortability and propagation among farmers. The safety measures are poor and farmers manifested some signs and symptoms confirming their exposure to pesticides. This is one of many data showing the health risks among the same population. The local and national authorities may seek cheap and comfortable personal protective materials to extend the life span of these producers.

The authors sincerely thank the farmers who deliberately gave specimens for this study and all facilities offered by all the respondents met during the survey to achieve this work.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Jean, S., Gracile, B.M. and Benoit, N.M. (2019) Characterization of Personal Clothing Worn by Pesticide Sprayers in Foumbot Agricultural area (Cameroon). Agricultural Sciences, 10, 1056-1072. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2019.108080