Tight-fitting chemical splash goggles or a full-face shield should be worn if there is any chance of getting pesticides in the eyes, especially when pouring or mixing concentrates and handling dusts. When pouring from a container, keep the container below eye level to avoid splashing or spilling chemicals on your face or protective clothing. All pesticides have the potential to be harmful to humans, animals, other living organisms, and the environment if used incorrectly.
The key to reducing health hazards when using pesticides is to always limit your exposure by wearing PPE and use a low-toxicity pesticide when available. Reading the label and practicing safe work habits will minimize hazards from the use of pesticides.
Calling the toll-free National Poison Center hotline above will connect you to the nearest poison center. Prepared by Eric S. Lorenz, senior extension associate of the Pesticide Education Program. Let's Stay Connected. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. View our privacy policy.
Thank you for your submission! Home Potential Health Effects of Pesticides. Potential Health Effects of Pesticides. For all pesticides to be effective against the pests they are intended to control, they must be biologically active, or toxic.
Pesticide Toxicity and Exposure Hazard, or risk, of using pesticides is the potential for injury, or the degree of danger involved in using a pesticide under a given set of conditions.
Acute Toxicity and Acute Effects Acute toxicity of a pesticide refers to the chemical's ability to cause injury to a person or animal from a single exposure, generally of short duration. Chronic Toxicity and Chronic Effects The chronic toxicity of a pesticide is determined by subjecting test animals to long-term exposure to the active ingredient.
Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning The symptoms of pesticide poisoning can range from a mild skin irritation to coma or even death.
Seeking Medical Attention Be alert for the early signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning in yourself and others. Harmful Effects of Some Pesticide Families Fungicides The acute toxicity of fungicides to humans is generally considered to be low, but fungicides can be irritating to the skin and eyes. Table 2. Signs and symptoms of acute exposure for several fungicide active ingredients. Allergic contact dermatitis. Copper Compounds Bordeaux mixture, Copper sulfate Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract.
Salts are corrosive to mucous membranes and cornea Metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, intestinal pain. Skin disease in occupationally exposed individuals. Breath odor of rotten eggs. Irritant dermatitis in occupationally exposed individuals Thiram Polyram-Ultra, Spotrete-F Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory mucous membranes Ziram Cuman, Vancide Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract Prolonged inhalation causes neural and visual disturbances Herbicides In general, herbicides have a low acute toxicity to humans because the physiology of plants is so different than that of humans.
Table 3. Signs and symptoms of acute exposure for several herbicide active ingredients. Vomiting, headache, diarrhea, confusion. Bizarre or aggressive behavior. Muscle weakness in occupationally exposed individuals.
Acetochlor Harness, Surpass Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract. Atrazine Aatrex, Atranex Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting. Eye irritation, irritation of mucous membranes, skin reactions. Dicamba Banvel, Metambane Irritating to skin, respiratory tract. Loss of appetite anorexia , vomiting, muscle weakness, slowed heart rate, shortness of breath. Central nervous system effects. Glyphosate Rodeo, Roundup Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract.
Giddiness, headache, fever, lethargy. Dry, cracked hands, ulceration of skin. Pendimethalin Prowl, Stomp Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract Propanil Propanex, Stampede Irritating to skin, eyes, respiratory tract Insecticides Insecticides cause the greatest number of pesticide poisonings in the United States. Table 4 summarizes the signs and symptoms from acute exposures to commonly used insecticides.
Table 4. Signs and symptoms of acute exposure for several insecticide active ingredients. Active Ingredient Brand Name Signs and Symptoms Acephate organophosphate Orthene Headache, excessive salivation and tearing, muscle twitching, nausea, diarrhea. Respiratory depression, seizures, loss of consciousness.
Pinpoint pupils. Aldicarb N-methyl carbamate Temik Malaise, muscle weakness, dizziness, sweating. Headache, salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea. Nervous system depression, pulmonary edema in serious cases. Carbaryl N-methyl carbamate Sevin Malaise, muscle weakness, dizziness, sweating. Chlorpyrifos organophosphate Dursban Headache, excessive salivation and tearing, muscle twitching, nausea, diarrhea. Endosulfan organochlorine Thiodan Itching, burning, tingling of skin.
Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, lack of coordination, tremor, mental confusion. Seizures, respiratory depression, coma. Malathion organophosphate Cythion Headache, excessive salivation and tearing, muscle twitching, nausea, diarrhea. Methyl Parathion organophosphate Penncap-M Headache, excessive salivation and tearing, muscle twitching, nausea, diarrhea.
Phosmet organophosphate Imidan Headache, excessive salivation and tearing, muscle twitching, nausea, diarrhea. Pyrethrins natural origin Irritating to skin and upper respiratory tract. Contact dermatitis and allergic reactions--asthma. Pyrethroids synthetic pyrethrin Cypermethrin, permethrin Abnormal facial sensation, dizziness, salivation, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea.
Irritability to sounds or touch. Seizures, numbness. Cholinesterase Testing Those who regularly work with organophosphates and carbamates should consider having periodic cholinesterase tests. Dermal More than 95 percent of all exposures are dermal.
Inhalation For many toxic chemicals, the respiratory breathing system is the quickest and most direct route of entry into the circulatory system. Oral Accidental oral exposure most frequently occurs when pesticides have been taken from the original container and put into an unlabeled bottle or food container.
Eyes Eyes are very sensitive to many pesticides and, considering their size, are able to absorb large amounts of chemical. Summary All pesticides have the potential to be harmful to humans, animals, other living organisms, and the environment if used incorrectly.
References Reigart, J. Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisoning. Oregon State University. Accessed September 20, National Poison Center Calling the toll-free National Poison Center hotline above will connect you to the nearest poison center. Med J Aust ; 2 : — As easy as buying a toothbrush. The Lancet ; : — Household firearm ownership and suicide rates in the United States. Epidemiology ; 13 : — Changes in rates of suicide by car exhaust asphyxiation in England and Wales.
Psychol Med ; 31 : — Department of Health. National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. London: Department of Health, World Health Organization. The World Health Report. Geneva: WHO, , pp. How are nations trying to prevent suicide? An analysis of national suicide prevention strategies. Acta Psychiatr Scand ; 95 : — Use of paracetamol acetaminophen for suicide and nonfatal poisoning: worldwide patterns of use and misuse.
Suicide Life Threat Behav ; 30 : — Effects of legislation restricting pack sizes of paracetamol and salicylate on self poisoning in the United Kingdom: before and after study.
Jeyaratnam J. Acute pesticide poisoning: a major global health problem. World Health Stat Q ; 43 : — The World Health Report Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. Geneva: WHO, Deliberate self-harm in Sri Lanka: an overlooked tragedy in the developing world. Kenmore PE. Integrated pest management. Int J Occup Environ Health ; 8 : — Hruska AJ, Corriols M.
The impact of training in integrated pest management among Nicaraguan maize farmers: increased net returns and reduced health risk. Influence of pesticide regulation on acute poisoning deaths in Sri Lanka. Bull World Health Organ In press. Pesticide mortality. A Jordanian experience. Am J Forensic Med Pathol ; 10 : — Gunnell D. Reporting suicide. Medicine in the media. The epidemiology and prevention of paraquat poisoning.
Hum Toxicol ; 6 : 19 — Amarasingham RD, Lee H. A review of poisoning cases examined by the Department of Chemistry, Malaysia, from to Med J Malaya ; 23 : — Senewiratne B, Thambipillai S. Pattern of poisoning in a developing agricultural country. Br J Prev Soc Med ; 28 : 32 — Is suicide preventable by restricting the availability of lethal agents? A rural survey of West Bengal. Ind J Psychiatry ; 21 : — Wohlfahrt DJ. Paraquat poisoning in Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea Med J ; 24 : — Wilks MF. Paraquat poisoning. Prevention of Suicidal Behaviors. A Task for All. Geneva: World Health Organization, The world report on violence and health. About the International Programme on Chemical Safety. Pesticide poisoning database in SEAR countries. Report of a regional workshop. Bull D. Oxford: Oxfam, Dinham B. The Pesticide Hazard. A Global Health and Environmental Audit. London: Zed Books, Murray DL.
Cultivating Crisis. Sass R. Int J Health Serv ; 30 : — Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.
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Volume Article Contents Patterns of suicide in countries where pesticide poisoning is commonplace. Method availability and suicide. Economics of pesticide poisoning. How can the death toll from pesticide poisoning be reduced? Why has there been a failure to act? Suicide by intentional ingestion of pesticides: a continuing tragedy in developing countries. David Gunnell , David Gunnell.
E-mail: D. Gunnell bristol. Oxford Academic. Google Scholar. Michael Eddleston. Select Format Select format. Permissions Icon Permissions. Patterns of suicide in countries where pesticide poisoning is commonplace In countries where the use of pesticides for self-harm is commonplace conventional epidemiological features of suicide appear to be distorted.
Economics of pesticide poisoning Deaths from pesticide ingestion are a major contributor to the global burden of suicide and premature mortality.
Table 1 Possible approaches to reducing deaths from intentional pesticide ingestion. Possible strategy. Who should be responsible for action? Costs to national Governments. May increase pesticide use Industry. Costs, difficulty policing legislation National Government legislation.
Symptoms are any functional changes in normal condition which can be described by the victim of poisoning, and may include nausea, headache, weakness, dizziness, and others. Anyone who works with pesticides should learn what these signs and symptoms are to prevent serious injury and allow prompt treatment.
Persons who are frequently involved with pesticides should become familiar with these important steps:. All pesticides in a given chemical group generally affect the human body in the same way; however, severity of the effects vary depending on the formulation, concentration, toxicity and route of exposure of the pesticide. It is important, therefore, to know both the type of pesticide you are using and the signs and symptoms associated with poisoning from it.
Most pesticide poisoning cases involve either organophosphate or carbamate insecticides. Both chemical groups affect humans by inhibiting acetyl cholinesterase, an enzyme essential to proper functioning of the nervous system.
Some organophosphate and carbamate insecticides commonly used in Nebraska are listed in Table II. The effects of these materials, particularly organophosphate insecticides, are rapid. Symptoms begin shortly after exposure, and in acute poisonings, during the exposure. Exposure to either of these insecticide classes may pose special risks for persons with reduced lung function, convulsive disorders, etc.
In some cases, alcoholic beverage consumption may exacerbate the pesticide effects. The onset of symptoms in milder exposures can occur anytime up to 12 hours later, but usually within four hours.
Consequently, diagnosis of a suspected poisoning must also be rapid. It is imperative to be familiar with the signs and symptoms these types of pesticides cause. Signs and symptoms associated with mild exposures to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides include:. These symptoms may be mistaken for those of flu, heat stroke or heat exhaustion, or upset stomach.
Moderately severe organophosphate and carbamate insecticide poisoning cases exhibit all the signs and symptoms found in mild poisonings, but in addition, the victim:.
Severe poisonings are indicated by incontinence, unconsciousness and seizures. The order in which these symptoms appear may vary, depending on how contact is made with the pesticide.
If the product is swallowed, stomach and other abdominal manifestations commonly appear first; if it is absorbed through the skin, gastric and respiratory symptoms tend to appear at the same time.
As with all pesticide poisonings, time is extremely critical. If a pesticide is swallowed, obtain prompt medical treatment. If a dermal exposure has occurred, remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin and seek medical care.
The U. Environmental Protection Agency has sharply curtailed the availability of many organochlorines because they are not readily biodegradable and persist in the environment. These materials affect the nervous system as stimulants or convulsants. Two organochlorine insecticides, lindane and methoxychlor, still have limited use. Nausea and vomiting commonly occur soon after ingesting organochlorines. Other early signs and symptoms include: apprehension, excitability, dizziness, headache, disorientation, weakness, a tingling or pricking sensation on the skin, and muscle twitching.
This is followed by loss of coordination, convulsions similar to epileptic seizures, and unconsciousness. When chemicals are absorbed through the skin, apprehension, twitching, tremors, confusion, and convulsions may be the first symptoms. No specific antidotes are available for organochlorine poisoning. Remove contaminated clothing immediately, and then bathe and shampoo the person vigorously with soap and water to remove pesticide from the skin and hair. Persons assisting a victim should wear chemical resistant gloves and be careful to avoid becoming contaminated by the pesticide.
If the pesticide has been ingested, empty the stomach as soon as possible by giving the conscious patient ipecac and water or by inserting a finger into the throat. Caution: Inhaling vomitus can be life-threatening. Timely emergency treatment is vital to survival.
Pyrethroids are synthetically produced compounds that mimic the structure of naturally occurring pyrethrins. Some examples of pyrethroids are in Table III. Systemic toxicity by inhalation and dermal absorption is low. There have been very few systemic poisonings of humans by pyrethroids. Dermal contact may result in skin irritation such as stinging, burning, itching, and tingling progressing to numbness.
Some may be toxic by the oral route, but usually ingestion of pyrethroid insecticide presents relatively little risk. Very large doses may rarely cause incoordination, tremors, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, and irritability to sound and touch.
Most pyrethroid metabolites are promptly excreted by the kidney. Pyrethroids are not cholinesterase inhibitors. Pyrethrum and pyrethrins. Crude pyrethrum is a dermal and respiratory allergen.
Skin irritation and asthma have occurred following exposures. In cases of human exposure to commercial products, the possible role of other toxicants in the products should be considered. The synergists, such as piperonyl butoxide, have low toxic potential in humans, but organophosphates or carbamates included in the product may have significant toxicity.
Pyrethrins themselves do not inhibit the cholinesterase enzyme. This naturally occurring substance is present in many plants. It is formulated as dusts, powders, and sprays for use in gardens and on food crops.
Although rotenone is toxic to the nervous systems of insects, fish, and birds, commercial rotenone products have presented little hazard to humans. Boric Acid and Borates. Borax dust is moderately irritating to skin. Inhaled dust causes irritation of the respiratory tract and shortness of breath.
In severe poisonings of infants, a beefy red skin rash, most often affecting palms, soles, buttocks, and scrotum, has been described. Bacillus thuringiensis Bt. From studies involving deliberate ingestion by human subjects, it appears possible that the organism can cause inflammation of the digestive tract.
No irritation or sensitization effects have been reported in workers preparing and applying commercial products. For many years, diethyltoluamide has been effective and generally well tolerated when applied to human skin, although tingling and mild irritation have followed repeated application. In some cases, DEET has caused skin irritation and intensification of preexisting skin disease. It is very irritating to the eyes, but not corrosive.
Serious adverse effects have occurred when the product has been used under hot, humid conditions and applied to skin areas that are in direct contact during sleep. Under these conditions, the skin became red and tender, then exhibited blistering and erosion, leaving painful weeping bare areas that were slow to heal.
Permanent scarring resulted from most of these severe reactions. Great caution should be exercised in using DEET on children. Only the products containing the lower concentrations should be used, and application should be limited to clothing, using as little repellent as possible. If headache or any kind of emotional or behavioral change occurs, use of DEET should be discontinued immediately. These herbicides share common signs and symptoms.
In general, these herbicides can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. They exhibit a low systemic toxicity. The most common bipyridyls are diquat and paraquat. Paraquat is more toxic than diquat and produces chronic abnormal cell growth in the lungs, cornea and lens of the eye, nasal mucosa, skin, and fingernails.
Diquat affects the eye lens and intestinal tract lining, but does not usually produce the frequently fatal lung changes characteristic of paraquat. Ingesting diquat or paraquat causes severe irritation to the mucous membranes of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Repeated vomiting generally follows. Large doses of diquat also produce restlessness and reduced sensitivity to stimulation. Large doses 6 to 8 oz.
Lesser amounts of paraquat will cause decreased urine volume in one to six days because of kidney failure; yellowing of the skin jaundice due to liver damage sometimes is observed. The initial phase is followed by a latent period lasting up to two weeks, during which the victim appears to improve. However, irreversible and progressive lung damage caused by rapid growth of connective tissue cells that prevent proper lung function eventually leads to death through respiratory failure.
Paraquat selectively concentrates in pulmonary cells. Dermal exposure to paraquat and diquat concentrates may cause severe skin irritation and burning. Contact with dilute liquids and diquat dusts may cause slight to moderate irritation.
Dermal absorption of paraquat apparently is slight, but diquat is absorbed and after repeated contact will produce symptoms similar to those following ingestion.
Exposure to paraquat and diquat spray mist may produce skin irritations, nasal bleeding, irritation and inflammation of the mouth and upper respiratory tract, coughing and chest pain. Exposure to paraquat concentrates may cause blackening of the nails and abnormal nail growth. There are no specific antidotes to counteract effects of paraquat and other bipyridyl herbicides once significant exposure and absorption has occurred. If ingested, induce vomiting immediately if not contraindicated by physical condition.
Flush affected eyes with water, or wash skin with soap and water. Seek medical attention promptly. These compounds are moderately irritating to skin and mucous membranes. Inhalations may cause burning sensations in the nose, sinuses and chest, and coughing may result. Prolonged inhalation sometimes causes dizziness. Irritation of the stomach usually leads to vomiting soon after ingestion.
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