At least one out of seven people are significantly harmed by pesticides each year. In addition, since safe levels are estimated for healthy adult males, others may be at an increased risk, including: children, the sick, elderly, and pregnant women. Also, when the effects of pesticide exposure are determined, combinations of chemicals within the same product are not considered. A common product that is often used is Weed-B-Gon. This product contains 2,4-D, dicamba, and MCPP. Since more than one chemical is used in the making of this product, the effects of exposure are not tested. Also, the insecticide Rose and Flower Dust contains carbaryl and methoxychlor. Again, since more than one chemical is used, testing of the effects is unlikely.

Fallacy
 A common fallacy involving pesticides is that they are not harmful unless they are ingested. However, most poisonings are due to absorption through the skin and inhaling the fumes. Children are at an increased risk because they are more prone to roll around in the grass, thus increasing absorption. Also, pets who roll around in the grass may track residues into the home, where the pesticide will remain for up to one year.

Illnesses
Pesticides are thought to be responsible for increased risk of a wide range of illnesses and diseases. The most common include breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia and brain cancer in children, birth defects, miscarriages, blindness, liver and kidney dysfunction, stroke, and immune system disorders. In fact, according to the EPA, 95% of the pesticides used on residential lawns are possible or probable carcinogens. A study of golf course superintendents completed by the University of Iowa found abnormally high rates of death attributed to cancers of the brain, large intestine, and prostate. Golfers and those who reside near golf courses are also believed to suffer the same increased risk.

Top of Page

Symptoms
Symptoms of pesticides poisoning include the following:

Risk for Children
 Children are at an increased risk for the following reasons:

• Absorb greater concentrations of pesticides per pound of body weight through inhalation, ingestion, and contact with the skin
• More likely to play on treated areas
• May not read or pay attention to warning signs that are posted
• Immune system is less developed
• Vulnerable to pesticides that mimic naturally occurring hormones or enzymes
• Developing cess are more easily damaged
• Have a longer life span ahead of them for chemically induced problems to occur
• Small doses can drastically impair the learning process

Top 10 Pesticide Perils
The following are the "EPA's dirty little secrets" found at Pesticide Free World.

10) If you can smell pesticides, you have been exposed to measurable concentrations. Most pesticide exposures occur without peoples' knowledge or consent.

9) It is virtually impossible to determine what you are being exposed to or predict potential adverse effects because of poor, or no, public notifications following pesticide applications and failures to disclose secret ingredients on pesticide labels.

8) EPA continues to allow more than 2000 secret "inert" ingredients in pesticides -- most are never tested by EPA or evaluated for toxicity.

7) Pesticides do not stay where they are applied. They drift, runoff, volatilize for extended time periods, get tracked and are spread around by sweeping or mopping.

6) Pesticides are harmful to many non-target organisms, including humans and other beneficial species. While pests build up resistance, people do not. This leads to more pesticide exposure.

5) Chemicals should never be your first defense against pests. Pesticides are not necessary over 90% of the time. Ineffectiveness leads to repeat exposure.

4) EPA took many safer, more effective, natural pest control products off store shelves -- and keeps them off. Labels of common multi-purpose products are not allowed to include instructions on how to use them as cost-effective alternatives to pesticides -- even if they contain nothing but natural ingredients with long histories of safe, widespread use and ready availablity.

3) There is no reason to assume pesticides are safe. State and Federal governments do not actually test pesticides to assure product safety before approving widespread public exposures. EPA allows several products, like Round-up and Dow Dursban, to remain in widespread use long after manufacturer's were found submiting fraudulent animal tests or breaking laws requiring mandatory notification of human health tragedies. Pesticides are banned only AFTER prolonged and massive devastation to human health, non-target species, and the environment.

Just because a pesticide has been banned does not mean you are safe! EPA allows continued manufacturing of banned pesticides, warehousing without any special safeguards, transportation without notifying motorists, and sales to other countries -- before allowing banned pesticide residues back into the United States on imported fruits, meats, and vegetables.

2) Pesticides contaminate buildings and their occupants. A study on indoor air found that out of the 26 pesticides examined 19 are neurotoxins, 18 may cause cancer, 15 are mutagens, 15 could cause birth defects, and 19 can cause reproductive problems.

1) Pesticides do not simply "go away" after they are sprayed. Some degrade into other chemical compounds of equal, freater, or undetermined toxicity. Some volatize, are ingested or enter the atmosphere. Some destroy the ozone layer. Others have half-lives of at least 20 years (which means you can expect pesticide traces to linger 40 years or more).

Top of Page

Glyphosate
Many herbicides contain the chemical glyphosate. One such brand is Round-Up.Round-up is used frequently by homeowners and can have devastating effects. It has been found by the makers of Round-Up, the following problems exist.

• Up to 140 days were required for half of the applied product to break down or disappear from the soil
• Glyphosate drifted up to 1300 feet during fround applications and 12,600 feet during aerial applications
• Ingesting about 3/4 cup can be lethal. REMEMBER: ingestion can occur through inhalation and absorption. Between 1984 and 1990 in California, glyphosate was the third most frequent reported cause of illness related to agricultural pesticide use
• Glyphosate can cause salivary gland lesions, reduced sperm counts, and a lengthened estrous cycle
• Round-Up contains toxic trade secret ingredients that cause nausea, diarrhea, chemical pneumonia, laryngitis, headaches, and burns
• Roundup kills beneficial insects
• Glyphosate is hazardous to earthworms
• Roundup inhibits mycorrhizal fungi
• Reduces nitrogen fixation
• Increases the spread or severity of plant diseases

Diazinon
Diazinon is a chemical found in many insecticides. It is an organophosphate which blocks enzymes that are essential for nerve impulse transmissions. The blockage of these enzymes can cause disruptions in the nervous system. Diazinon has been banned for use on golf courses and sod farms due to massive waterfowls deaths. However, it is still widely used on a routine basis on home lawns and gardens.

Atrazine
Atrazine is the most widely used farm weed killer. The EPA concluded that after a brief exposure, possibly as little as one day, atrazine may cause miscarriage and defects in the development during puberty. These defects include a delayed vaginal opening and penis development. In addition, it is now classified as a possible carcinogen that is likely to cause cancer.

In addition to direct exposure, atrazine is a main contaminate of water. In fact, atrazine causes more health standard violation in tap water than any other EPA-regulated chemical pollutant. Contamination of tap water by atrazine effects more than 10 million people in the Midwest.

Top of Page

Biological Magnification
Some pesticides are considered environmental estrogens. These chemicals interfer with sex hormone function causing decreased sperm counts, breast cancer, testicular cancer, miscarriages, and malformed organs in offspring. These chemicals accumulate in higher concentrations in progressively higher trophic levels (see diagram below). This accumulation is called biological magnification. Examples of pesticide chemicals that are known to be environmental estrogens include methoxyclor (insecticide used in Rose and Flower Dust), Atrazine (Herbicide, see information above), and benomyl (fungicide). In addition to using these chemicals, people can be exposed through food since the EPA allows exporting of banned pesticides that may be used on imported food.

Trophic levels:

Primary Producers: grass, leaves, berries, flowers, sea plants, etc.
Primary Consumers: insects, fish, etc.
Secondary Consumers: birds, non-human mammals, marine animals
Tertiary Consumers: Humans

Example: When plants are treated with a pesticide, an insect may eat the plant. At that point, the insect will have a higher concentration of the pesticide.

In turn, a cow eats the insect.

Finally, a human consumes the cow.

At each point, the concentration of the pesticide increases.

Top of Page

Don't forget to check out the Stories page to read what has happened to real people when poisoned by pesticides.