Background: Poor pesticide handling practices are recorded on a regular basis in Greece, where the average farmer is elderly. This raises concerns regarding their compliance with pesticide regulations and the associated health implications. Our purpose in undertaking the present study was to examine elderly farmers’ attitudes regarding pesticide handling and safety issues, as well as, the potential link between pesticide exposure and daily functioning capacity.

Methods: Participants were 1443 elderly individuals, 276 of whom reported long-term, direct exposure to pesticides (spraying in gardens, open fields, and/or a greenhouse). Several aspects of pesticide handling were gleaned via a self-report questionnaire. Ability to perform everyday tasks was assessed with the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale.

Results: On average, participants were not consistent with respect to safety practices. Half could not recall the specific brand names of the pesticides they used and 47.5% reported using chemical cocktails, often exceeding the maximum recommended frequency of applications per year. In many cases, they reported application of banned pesticides, such as DDT, and more than half reported applying pesticides without protective equipment. Analyses showed that exposure to pesticides was associated with impaired everyday functioning (OR = 1.16; 95%, CI = 1.04-1.28) and specifically, with an inability to interpret surroundings and recall recent events, a tendency to dwell on the past and changes in bladder-sphincter control.

Conclusion: We found poor awareness and adherence to safety practices regarding pesticide use among elderly farmers, as well as an association between pesticide use and everyday functioning. Relevant health and environmental implications are discussed.