Occupational Hazards of Handling Pesticide-Treated Seeds in Agriculture

Seeds used in large-scale crop production are commonly treated with plant protection products (PPPs) to ensure crop protection from the earliest stages of growth. However, handling treated seeds may expose agricultural workers to these products. This study was conducted in French-speaking and German-speaking regions of Switzerland to assess farmers’ practices, their perception of risks associated with handling treated seeds, and to identify needs in terms of information and exposure prevention, particularly for vulnerable groups such as young professionals and women of reproductive age.

The majority of participants reported exposure to dust during activities such as loading seed drills, with higher volumes of treated seeds handled by agricultural contractors. Approximately 17% of respondents reported acute symptoms, mainly skin and eye irritation. Seed colour was perceived as an indicator of treatment, but understanding of label information was partial. Although most respondents reported consulting seed labels, important gaps in risk comprehension were identified.

The survey highlighted several areas for improvement, including clearer information on seed labels regarding appropriate personal protective equipment, increased awareness of high-risk activities, and the development of age- and gender-adapted information tools to improve risk communication and ensure more effective transmission of preventive messages.