What is pesticide exposure?
Pesticides are substances designed to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate pests. As of 2012, approximately 899 million pounds of conventional pesticides (e.g. insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fumigants) were used in United States agriculture (EPA 2017).
What are potential adverse health effects of pesticide exposure?
Between 2007 and 2011, the rate of acute illness and injury among agricultural workers (18.6/1000,000) was estimated to be 37 times greater than the rate for nonagricultural workers (0.5/100,000) (Calvert et al. 2016). Skin absorption, inhalation, and ingestion are key routes of exposure to consider for occupational and residential settings. PNASH works to address pesticide exposure for those who are most vulnerable:
- Pesticide handlers (mixers, loaders, and applicators)
- Children who have an enhanced susceptibility to the uptake and toxicity of pesticides
Overall, improved products, application practices, and case reporting have helped, but common illnesses and injuries still occur. Some of these common exposures happen through the off-target movement of pesticides (a.k.a. drift) or splashes to the eye. A growing body of evidence reveals that long-term exposure can lead to more serious health effects including neurological diseases and cancers.
PNASH Resources
Online Learning: Pesticide Safety Solutions
An online course with practical resources, ready-to-use toolkits. Developed by researchers and agricultural partners.
Forest Worker Safety Talks | Platicas sobre seguridad para los trabajadores forestales
Real worker stories are used to start conversations and give essential safety tips.
Se usan historias reales de los trabajadores para iniciar conversaciones y dar consejos esenciales de seguridad.
¡Etiquetas de pesticidas, ahora!™/Pesticide Labels, Now!™
Esta aplicación bilingüe (versión beta) ya está disponible para productores de manzano y peral en el estado de Washington.
PNASH Research
Pesticide Exposures and Risk Perceptions among Male and Female Latinx Farmers in Idaho
PNASH Pilot Project 2021-2022 | Carly Hyland, PhD
Learn moreSafety and Health of Forestry Services Workers in the Pacific Northwest
NIOSH Funding Period 2014-2017 | Butch de Castro, PhD, MSN, MPH
Learn morePesticide Safety in Tree Fruit: Translating Research, Overcoming Barriers
NIOSH Funding Period 2011-2016 | Kit Galvin, MS, CIH and Nadine Lehrer, PhD
Learn more