Insulin resistance is a risk factor for various diseases. Chronic organophosphate exposure has been reported to be a cause of insulin resistance in animal models. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between organophosphate exposure and insulin resistance in pesticide sprayers and nonfarmworkers. Participants aged 40–60 years, consisting of 150 pesticide sprayers and 150 nonfarmworkers, were interviewed and assessed for their homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) level. Organophosphate (OP) exposure was measured in 37 sprayers and 46 nonfarmworkers by first morning urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites. The DAP metabolite levels were not different in either group except for diethylthiophosphate (DETP; p = 0.03), which was higher in sprayers. No significant association was observed between DAP metabolite levels and HOMA-IR. Wearing a mask while handling pesticides was associated with lower dimethyl metabolites (95% CI = −11.10, −0.17). Work practices of reading pesticide labels (95% CI = −81.47, −14.99) and washing hands after mixing pesticide (95% CI = −39.97, −3.35) correlated with lower diethyl alkylphosphate level. Overall, we did not observe any association between OP exposure and insulin resistance in pesticide sprayers and the general population. However, personal protective equipment (PPE) utilization and work practice were associated with OP exposure level in sprayers.

Several chemicals, including occupational carcinogens (OCs), have been used in Thailand. Apart from asbestos and silica, other OCs need to be identified for further monitoring and management. The study aimed to identify and conduct priority setting of these carcinogens in Thailand. The methods of the study were applied from Hanlon’s method for priority setting. The first step was to identify OCs from the lists of the National Hazardous Substance Registry by using the criteria as follows: 1) being classified as OCs by Loomis et al., and 2) having high amount of import/export in the country during 2018–2020. After that, the identified agents were ranked according to three criteria: 1) size of the problem, 2) severity of the problem, and 3) feasibility of interventions. The results found that 18 occupational carcinogens were identified and 12 of them were still allowed to be used in the country. According to available information, seven agents were matched for priority setting, and the top three scored OCs included 1) arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds, 2) trichloroethylene, and 3) formaldehyde. Further action plan includes health risk assessment, setting up of health surveillance, and implementation of preventive and control measures in the target workplaces.