What are pesticides?
Pesticides are substances used to kill or repel insects, diseases, plants, animals (rats, mice…) and other living organisms which are invasive, harmful and cause damage and therefore are considered to be pests.Pesticides are however also toxic to people and non-target organisms, and pollute the environment. Their handling, use and disposal always require special care.
Pesticide toxicity\
There are two types of toxicity: acute and chronic toxicity.Acute toxicity of a pesticide refers to the product’s ability to cause harm to a person or an animal from a single exposure event, generally of short duration. Acute effects generally appear promptly, or within 24-48 hours of exposure.To better understand acute poisoning, farmers can think of the effects of the bite of a venomous snake. People and animal develop a quick reaction after the bite (exposure to the poison). The effects can be reversible, or lead to death depending on the strength of the poison.These effects are similar to those of other types of poisoning and to other illnesses, and include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Irritation
- Swelling
- Affect metabolism
- Respiratory difficulties
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
- Unconsciousness
- Pain
- Stomach cramps
- Trembling
- Death
Antidotes can be effective if administrated promptly.
Chronic toxicity refers to harmful effects that occur from small doses repeated over a period of time. The main problem with chronic symptoms is that it can take time for them to become apparent, and then, when you do notice them, it is too late to do anything about them.
Pesticides with chronic hazard might cause cancer, immune suppression, damage to kidneys, brain and other organs, diminished intelligence, reduced fertility or damage to the unborn child (baby in the mother’s womb).
Chronic toxicity of pesticides concerns farmers and pesticide applicators working directly with the chemicals, but also the community and the general public potentially exposed to pesticide containers and pesticide residues on or in food products, water, and the air.
To better understand chronic toxicity, farmers can think of the effects of smoking over time.
Pesticide exposure
When people or animals come in contact with a pesticide they are exposed to their toxicity. There are three main exposure routes:
- eye and skin contact
- inhalation
- ingestion
You can be poisoned no matter which way pesticides enter your body. The dermal and inhalation routes of pesticide entry are likely to be the most important routes of pesticide applicator exposure. Farmers might breathe pesticide in, splash them on their skin, or expose themselves to pesticide drift.
There are also practices and behaviours that can increase the likelihood of exposure such as smoking, eating and drinking in the field, or applying chemicals against the wind.
Children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to adverse effects from exposure to pesticides.