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PubMed2007

The sublethal effects of pesticides on beneficial arthropods.

Traditionally, measurement of the acute toxicity of pesticides to beneficial arthropods has relied largely on the determination of an acute median lethal dose or concentration. However, the estimated lethal dose during acute toxicity tests may only be a partial measure of the deleterious effects. In addition to direct mortality induced by pesticides, their sublethal effects on arthropod physiology and behavior must be considered for a complete analysis of their impact. An increasing number of studies and methods related to the identification and characterization of these effects have been published in the past 15 years. Review of sublethal effects reported in published literature, taking into account recent data, has revealed new insights into the sublethal effects of pesticides including effects on learning performance, behavior, and neurophysiology. We characterize the different types of sublethal effects on beneficial arthropods, focusing mainly on honey bees and natural enemies, and we describe the methods used in these studies. Finally, we discuss the potential for developing experimental approaches that take into account these sublethal effects in integrated pest management and the possibility of integrating their evaluation in pesticide registration procedures.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and pesticide exposure: 25 years of research.

Over the past 40 years, a substantial rise in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has been observed. Epidemiologic studies aimed at understanding this rise have revealed some association with occupational exposure. NHL is common among farmers, where pesticides have been described as the culprit. The association between pesticides and NHL has been demonstrated mainly in case-control studies, while retrospective cohorts have been less convincing. Pesticides including chlorphenol and phenoxyacetic acid herbicides, organochlorines, and organophosphate insecticides, carbamates, and fungicides have been associated with NHL. Although the causality has not been clearly proven, both genotoxic and nongenotoxic mechanisms for lymphomagenesis have been proposed. The leveling-off of NHL incidence in certain countries may be the result of a favorable change in pesticide usage patterns. Future studies, such as the Agricultural Health Study, may clarify the uncertainties regarding this issue.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of pesticide immunotoxicity.

Immunotoxicologic effects have been reported for a number of pesticides. Since pesticides represent a large range of chemical classes, different types of chemicals may affect the complex immune system by a variety of mechanisms. A preliminary evaluation of pesticides for immunotoxicologic potential can best be incorporated in general subacute and chronic toxicity testing, with additional groups assigned for initial host-sensitivity assays. For chemicals that are possible candidates for immunotoxicity in preliminary assays, a comprehensive immunotoxicity screening has been suggested. Finally, emphasis should be given to mechanistic investigations to objectively assess the immunotoxicity of a new chemical and possible extrapolation to man. Animal models need to be developed for detecting the autoimmunologic potential of pesticides. This paper provides a brief listing of various approaches currently employed in the evaluation of immunotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunotoxicity of pesticides: a review.

The intricate balance that is the hallmark of the immune system shows vulnerability to any chemical, including pesticides, that can cause structural and functional alterations to the system. The immunotoxic effects of xenobiotics include: histopathologic effects in immune tissues and organs; cellular pathology; altered maturation of immunocompetent cells; changes in B and T cell subpopulations; and functional alterations of immunocompetent cells. Pesticides, including fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, are the only class of chemicals deliberately released into the environment because of their toxicity. Around the world, millions of people are exposed to pesticides at work and/or in their home. This article reviews evidence, from animal and human studies, on the effects of pesticides on the immune system.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Suspected paediatric pesticide poisoning in the UK. I--Home Accident Surveillance System 1982-1988.

1. Between 1982 and 1988, 239,350 children under 10 years old attended 20 A & E Departments in England and Wales (22 departments throughout the UK in 1988) as a result of a home accident. 15,144 of 239,350 were suspected cases of poisoning and 514 attendances involved pesticides. 2. 501 of 514 children who attended hospital were under 6 years old and 41% were thought to have ingested a rodenticide, 37% an insecticide or other animal poison, 13% an herbicide or fungicide and 9% other pesticides. 3. Overall 189 of 514 children were admitted to hospital and of these 189 cases 35% were discharged home in less than one day; 94% left hospital within 2 days. 4. Using these data we estimate that over the period of study approximately 1,850 children annually attended an Accident and Emergency Department in the UK with suspected pesticide poisoning and that some 450 were admitted to hospital. However, the morbidity from this cause is low and no deaths from pesticide poisoning have been reported in children in England and Wales for more than two decades.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1995

Pesticide incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive 1989/90- 1991/92.

1. Data concerning pesticide incidents investigated by the Field Operations Division (FOD) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain have been collated for the three year period April 1989 to March 1992. Over this period the HSE investigated 613 incidents concerning pesticides: 338 related to general or environmental complaints not involving human poisoning and 275 were suspected poisoning incidents. 2. The two hundred and seventy-five suspected poisoning incidents were assessed by the Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) as 'confirmed', 'likely', 'unlikely', 'not confirmed', or that there were 'insufficient data' to make an assessment. Assessed data are unavailable for eight incidents reported in 1989. 3. Four hundred and eighteen members of the public were involved in 202 assessed incidents and 79 workers were exposed in 65 assessed incidents. Overall, 129 (48%) incidents were assessed as 'confirmed' or 'likely', 121 (45%) as 'unlikely' or 'not confirmed' and in 17 (6%) there were 'insufficient data' to form a judgement. Incidents occurring in an occupational setting were assessed as 'confirmed' or 'likely' more frequently (62%) than those involving members of the public (44%). 5. Thirty-six per cent of those involved in a 'confirmed' poisoning incident were working with a pesticide or were in close proximity to the operator; 41% were on private property adjacent to a field being sprayed and a further 23% involved those walking, cycling or jogging past a sprayed field.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Agricultural implications of pesticide-induced hormesis of insects and mites.

Resurgence of pest insects and mites and secondary pest outbreaks are commonly observed following pesticide applications on agricultural commodities. Reduction of natural enemy populations is the major factor blamed for these phenomena but insect or mite hormesis is a second, often overlooked factor which may be partially responsible. A major impact of hormesis is that it often leads to the need for additional pesticide treatments and can result in a spiralling increase in the use of pesticides, a term labelled in entomological literature as the 'pesticide syndrome'.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2006

Pesticides in the homes of farmworkers: Latino mothers' perceptions of risk to their children's health.

Pesticide exposure has been linked with immediate and delayed health effects. Anyone who lives in a farmworker household may be exposed to pesticides. Studies with farmworkers have found generally low levels of awareness of pesticide exposure and prevention. Less is known about the perceptions of nonfarmworkers living with farmworkers. This article presents the results of 41 in-depth interviews conducted with Latino women in farmworker households regarding their knowledge of pesticides and perceptions of risk to their children's health. Their perceptions and behavior differ from scientific understanding and policy recommendations for exposure management, resulting in behaviors that may increase children's risk of exposure and subsequent health problems. Because the level at which exposure becomes harmful remains a subject of scientific debate, the wisest course of action is to minimize exposure (the precautionary principle). Families living in farmworker households would benefit from health education programs that target their specific needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time trends of occupational pesticide-related injuries in Costa Rica, 1982-1992.

To evaluate time trends of occupational pesticide-related injuries in Costa Rica, a survey was carried out three times over a ten-year period at a national reporting system for occupational accidents and diseases among wage-earning workers. The sample comprised the accidents reported during the months of June of the years 1982, 1987, and 1992. The overall incidence rates were 1.8, 2.7, and 2.5 per 1,000 agricultural workers, respectively. Rates among female workers increased (3.1, 3.7, 5.4) and were elevated as compared with male workers (1.7, 2.6, 2.3). The trend for topical lesions was upgoing (1.2, 1.4, 2.1), consistent with an increased use of fungicides and lack of safety measures for pesticides with low acute toxicity. Systemic poisonings peaked in 1987 (0.6, 1.2, 0.5), declining in 1992 with increased use of biologic pest control and pyrethroid insecticides less toxic than cholinesterase inhibitors, and improved safety during nematocide applications on banana plantations. In 1992, despite the largest decline of systemic poisonings in the banana-producing Atlantic Region, poisonings as well as topical injuries were still four times more frequent in this region than in the rest of the country. Restriction of highly toxic pesticides together with implementation of occupational safety measures can reduce systemic poisonings in developing countries. Such policies need to be extended to other pesticides to prevent less life threatening but often disabling skin and eye injuries.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surveillance of pesticide-related illness in the developing world: putting the data to work.

With PLAGSALUD support, pesticide illness surveillance has extended to all seven Central American countries, producing 7,000 poisoning reports in 2000, but governments' use of the surveillance data has been limited by inadequacies of data management, interpretation, and reporting and an influential pesticide industry in weak economies. Overrepresented reports of suicides minimize occupational hazards. In six countries, 32,245 questionnaire responses indicated 98% underreporting of pesticide poisonings and a regional estimate of 400,000 poisonings per year (1.9% of the population), 76% work-related. A potentially far-reaching measure to come out of this surveillance is an agreement of the ministers of health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (RESSCAD 2000) for a harmonized list of banned and restricted pesticides, including the 12 most frequently reported. The RESSCAD agreement has met considerable resistance from industry. Its achievement versus failure will disclose the ability of Central American governments to prioritize protection of human health against commercial corporate interests. Surveillance data have potential for policy reform, but a more aggressive health sector is needed, linked with the environmental sector, grass-roots organizations, and universities.

Central America↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The export of pesticides: shipments from U.S. ports, 1995-1996.

In 1995-96, 21 million pounds of pesticides that were forbidden to be used in the United States were exported from U.S. ports. This total, which includes domestically-banned and never-registered products, is on average 14 tons per day. In addition, more than 48 million pounds (24,000 tons) of extremely toxic pesticides were exported. Most of these pesticides were shipped to developing countries, despite extensive evidence of the need to restrict the export of hazardous pesticides from the United States to these countries to protect their workers' health and their environments. The National Environmental Protection Act presents a sensible and manageable policy that, if followed, could considerably alleviate the problem. Specifics are provided.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Contact dermatitis caused by pesticides among banana plantation workers in Panama.

To characterize dermatitis related to pesticide exposures among banana plantation workers in Panama, the authors studied 281 workers seen at The Occupational Health Department of the Social Security Hospital of Changuinola and Puerto Armuelles between 1988-1992 and in 1993. Exposure data were collected through a standardized occupational health history. Physical examination, a standard patch test, and a pesticide patch test (PPT) were carried out. Of the 244 men (86.8%) and 37 women (13.2%), 17 and 37, respectively, were packing station workers. The other 227 men were field workers, exposed to many pesticides (propiconazole, maneb, chlorothalonil, dithane, dalaphon, ametrine; and gramoxone). The 54 packing station workers were exposed to imazalil, thiabendazole, aluminum hydroxide solutions, and formaldehyde. The hands were the most frequently affected areas (82%), followed by the thorax and abdomen (9%), legs and feet (5%), and genital area (4%). There were 78 positive PPTs (27.8%) in 281 patients. The most frequent reactions were to the fungicides chloro-thalonil (51.4%), thiabendazole (12.8%), imazalil (10.2%), and aluminum hydroxide (10.2%), which accounted for 85% of all positive tests. The majority of the cases were related to exposures to fungicides; 246 with negative PPTs were classified as irritant contact dermatitis patients; 48 controls were negatives. Contact dermatitis related to pesticide exposure is a significant occupational health problem for banana workers in Panama.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pesticide usage and health consequences for women in developing countries: out of sight, out of mind?

Pesticide exposures of women in developing countries are aggravated by economic policy changes associated with structural adjustment programs and globalization. Women in these countries, particularly in the agricultural sector, are increasingly exposed. Since they are concentrated in the most marginal positions in the formal and informal workforces, and production is organized in a gender-specific way, opportunities for women to control their exposures are limited. Data from developing countries show that: 1) women's exposures to pesticides are significantly higher than is recognized; 2) poisonings and other pesticide-related injuries are greatly underestimated for women; 3) for a given adverse outcome from exposure, the experience of that outcome is gender-discriminatory; 4) erroneous risk perception increases women's exposures. The hiatus in knowledge of gender-specific exposures and effects is related to gender biases in the nature of epidemiologic inquiry and in the literature, and the gendered nature of health workers' practices and surveillance. Recommendations are made for strong, independent organizations that provide opportunities for women to control their environments, and the factors affecting their health, as well as gender-sensitive research to address the particularities of women's pesticide exposures.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Glycophorin A is a potential biomarker for the mutagenic effects of pesticides.

For individuals with multiple exposures to bone marrow mutagens the glycophorin A (GPA) assay appears to detect the cumulative genotoxic effects of these nonspecific exposures. To determine whether workers exposed to organophosphates and/or carbamate pesticides have more GPA variants compared with controls, this cross-sectional cohort study examined 67 Latino farm workers, most of whom were exposed to organophosphate or carbamate pesticides, and 68 age-, gender-, ethnicity-, and education-matched reference subjects. Of the 27 participants who completed the questionnaire and had the M/N alleleotype required for the GPA assay, the N/N variant frequency was 9.1 x 10(-6) in the ten subjects with more than 1,500 cumulative hours of exposure vs 3.8 x 10(-6) in the six referent subjects with no known pesticide exposure (p = 0.097). A consistent trend with increasing cumulative exposure was found for N/N and O/N allele-loss frequencies when exposures were stratified into three groups. Despite the small sample size due to the alleleotype restriction, these findings support the hypothesis that some pesticides are mutagenic to hematopoietic stem cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Agricultural pesticide use and risk of t(14;18)-defined subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Pesticides have been specifically associated with the t(14;18)(q32;q21) chromosomal translocation. To investigate whether the association between pesticides and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) differs for molecular subtypes of NHL defined by t(14; 18) status, we obtained 175 tumor blocks from case subjects in a population-based case-control study conducted in Nebraska between 1983 and 1986. The t(14;18) was determined by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization in 172 of 175 tumor blocks. We compared exposures to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fumigants in 65 t(14;18)-positive and 107 t(14;18)-negative case subjects with those among 1432 control subjects. Multivariate polytomous logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared with farmers who never used pesticides, the risk of t(14;18)-positive NHL was significantly elevated among farmers who used animal insecticides (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.0-6.9), crop insecticides (OR = 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-8.2), herbicides (OR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.9), and fumigants (OR = 5.0; 95% CI, 1.7-14.5). None of these pesticides were associated with t(14;18)-negative NHL. The risk of t(14;18)-positive NHL associated with insecticides and herbicides increased with longer duration of use. We conclude that insecticides, herbicides, and fumigants were associated with risk of t(14;18)-positive NHL but not t(14;18)-negative NHL. These results suggest that defining subsets of NHL according to t(14;18) status is a useful approach for etiologic research.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Screening of pesticide residues in soil and water samples from agricultural settings.

BACKGROUND: The role of agricultural practices in the selection of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors has so far been hypothesized without clear evidence. Many mosquito species, Anopheles gambiae in particular, lay their eggs in breeding sites located around agricultural settings. There is a probability that, as a result of farming activities, insecticide residues may be found in soil and water, where they exercise a selection pressure on the larval stage of various populations of mosquitoes. To confirm this hypothesis, a study was conducted in the Republic of Benin to assess the environmental hazards which can be generated from massive use of pesticides in agricultural settings. METHODS: Lacking an HPLC machine for direct quantification of insecticide residues in samples, this investigation was performed using indirect bioassays focussed on the study of factors inhibiting the normal growth of mosquito larvae in breeding sites. The speed of development was monitored as well as the yield of rearing An. gambiae larvae in breeding sites reconstituted with water and soil samples collected in agricultural areas known to be under pesticide pressure. Two strains of An. gambiae were used in this indirect bioassay: the pyrethroid-susceptible Kisumu strain and the resistant Ladji strain. The key approach in this methodology is based on comparison of the growth of larvae in test and in control breeding sites, the test samples having been collected from two vegetable farms. RESULTS: Results obtained clearly show the presence of inhibiting factors on test samples. A normal growth of larvae was observed in control samples. In breeding sites simulated by using a few grams of soil samples from the two vegetable farms under constant insecticide treatments (test samples), a poor hatching rate of Anopheles eggs coupled with a retarded growth of larvae and a low yield of adult mosquitoes from hatched eggs, was noticed. CONCLUSION: Toxic factors inhibiting the hatching of anopheles eggs and the growth of larvae are probably pesticide residues from agricultural practices. Samples used during this indirect assay have been stored in the laboratory and will be analysed with HPLC techniques to confirm hypothesis of this study and to identify the various end products found in soil and water samples from agricultural settings under pesticide pressure.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

Early management after self-poisoning with an organophosphorus or carbamate pesticide - a treatment protocol for junior doctors.

Severe organophosphorus or carbamate pesticide poisoning is an important clinical problem in many countries of the world. Unfortunately, little clinical research has been performed and little evidence exists with which to determine best therapy. A cohort study of acute pesticide poisoned patients was established in Sri Lanka during 2002; so far, more than 2000 pesticide poisoned patients have been treated. A protocol for the early management of severely ill, unconscious organophosphorus/carbamate-poisoned patients was developed for use by newly qualified doctors. It concentrates on the early stabilisation of patients and the individualised administration of atropine. We present it here as a guide for junior doctors in rural parts of the developing world who see the majority of such patients and as a working model around which to base research to improve patient outcome. Improved management of pesticide poisoning will result in a reduced number of suicides globally.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Effects of common-use pesticides on developmental and reproductive processes in Daphnia.

Daphnia magna were evaluated for use as a screen for pesticides that have been demonstrated to have estrogenic (o'p'-DDT, di-n-butyl phthalate, toxaphene), anti-androgenic (p'p-DDE, linuron), thyroid (acetochlor, alachlor, metribuzin), insulin (amitraz) or lutenizing hormone (2,4-D) activity in vertebrates, and to establish daphnid sensitivity to these compounds. Pesticides with unknown effects on vertebrate endocrine systems (chlorosulfuran, cyanazine, diflubenzuron, metolachlor, and diquat) were also evaluated. Compounds were assayed for six days at environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 100 mirog/L, using female Daphnia and their offspring. Sublethal endpoints included offspring sex (sex determination), clutch size (fecundity), and adult size (growth rate). Toxaphene was the only compound that affected sexual differentiation, increasing male production. Daphnia fecundity declined with exposure to toxaphene, and daphnid growth rates were reduced by acetochlor exposure. Diflubenzuron, o'p'-DDT, and p'p-DDE significantly reduced Daphnia survival. No correlation existed between affected reproductive or developmental processes and specific endocrine systems or subsystems. Results from this study indicate that Daphnia make a good screen for assessing potential environmental impacts but are not a useful indicator of pesticide hormonal activity in vertebrates. This assay consistently detected sublethal but ecologically relevant effects of these pesticides on Daphnia at environmentally relevant concentrations typically below their listed EC50 value.

Animals↗