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
Soluciones Prácticas para Segurida con Pesticidas
Este manual de capacitación, desarrollado en colaboración con agricultores, ofrece una colección de soluciones e ideas para prevenir la contaminación por pesticidas.
Practical Solutions for Pesticide Safety guide
This training manual, developed in collaboration with farmers, educators, and researchers, provides a collection of solutions and ideas for preventing pesticide contamination.