Introduction: Exposure to pesticides is a topic of interest in public health due to the large number of exposed population and the health effects they trigger. Agriculture is the activity that most uses this type of compound, consuming up to 85% of world production. Objective: to determine the exposure to pesticides and health effects caused in the occupationally and environmentally exposed population of the municipality of Montelíbano (Córdoba) in the year 2021. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 100 inhabitants; of which 50 were exposed environmentally and 50 occupationally. A survey was carried out in order to collect the sociodemographic variables, in addition, an analysis of pesticides in blood was carried out. Measures of central tendency and exposure were calculated and relationships between the health variables included in the study were sought. Results: Of the 99 participants from the Montelíbano municipality, 63.6% were occupationally exposed to pesticides and 36.4% their exposure was environmental, 57.6% worked in mining and 3% in agricultural work. 33.3% of the pesticides used were classified as moderately and very dangerous and with respect to those found in blood, organochlorines were reported, which are prohibited in the country. The most reported symptoms were respiratory (82.5%) and neurological (52.4%) in the occupationally exposed participants Conclusion: exposure to mixtures of chemical substances is found since they are workers who work in mining, but some of them also carry out activities agricultural. It is important to insist on self-care behaviors in the population, as well as provide training in the use and handling of chemical substances to workers in order to minimize exposure.
