Pesticide Exposure Health Risks

Pesticides can cause three types of harmful effects - acute, delayed, and allergic:

• Acute effects are illnesses or injuries that may appear soon after exposure to a pesticide.
• Pesticide exposure may also lead to delayed effects, which are illnesses or injuries that do not appear within 24 hours after exposure to a pesticide.
• Finally, exposure can cause harmful allergic effects that affect some people with special sensitivities, but not others. Allergic effects can range from the relatively minor (such as itchy, watery eyes and sneezing) to the very uncomfortable (such as rashes, blisters, or open sores) to the life-threatening (including asthma and even shock).

Many of the signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning are similar to those of other common illnesses, such as the flu. Pesticide poisoning may cause excessive sweating, chills, or thirst; chest pain; difficulty breathing; and muscle cramps or body aches. External irritants can cause redness, blisters, rash, or burns to the skin and swelling, stinging, or burns to the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat.

Some harmful effects of pesticides may not appear for years. Studies on laboratory animals show that some pesticides may cause cancer, permanent harm to body systems, miscarriages, or birth defects. Since the long-term effects of pesticides on humans are unknown, do not take any chances. When you handle pesticides or work in areas where they have been applied, do what you can to prevent them from getting on or into your body.

To learn more about Pesticide Worker Safety visit our Pesticide Worker Safety Online Training web page.