The link between the use and dissemination of pesticides in our living environment and disease in humans is a huge topic. You may find The Collaberative on Health and the Environment (CHE) Toxicant and Disease Database of use for further reference:
http://database.healthandenvironment.org/
Pesticides and Cancer
Pesticides and Hormone/Endocrine Disruption
Summary of the Possible Effects of Exposure to Endoncrine Disrupting Substances
Pesticides and Diabetes
Pesticides and the Central Nervous System
Pesticides and Anaemia
Pesticides and the Unborn
Pesticides and Mutations
Pesticides and Heart Disease
Non_Hodgkins Lymphoma
"Swedish researchers have linked pesticides to one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the Western world. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which has risen by
73 per cent in the US since 1973, is probably caused by several commonly used crop sprays, say the scientists.
Lennart Hardell of Orebro Medical Center and Mikael Eriksson of Lund University Hospital found Swedish sufferers of the disease were 2-to-7 times more likely
to have been exposed to MCPA, a widely used weedkiller, than healthy people.
MCPA, which is used on grain crops, is sold as Target by the Swiss firm Novartis. In addition, patients were 3-to-7 times more likely to have been exposed to a
range of fungicides, an association not previously reported.
The patients were also 2-to-3 times more likely to have had contact with glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in Sweden. Use of this chemical, sold
as Round-Up by the US firm Monsanto, is expected to rocket with the introduction of crops, such as Roundup-Ready soya beans, that are genetically modified
to resist glyphosate. The researchers suggest that the chemicals have suppressed the patients' immunity, allowing viruses such as Epstein-Barr to trigger cancer.
(Reference: 'Swiss Study Says It's Raining Pesticides' by FRED PEARCE and DEBORA MACKENZIE c. c.1999 New Scientist
http://www.healthy.net/library/newsletters/Update/swisspesticides.htm
Pesticides can also disrupt the bodies metabolism of hormones and this, in turn, can also lead to cancer - particularly of the breast and prostate.
Endocrine disruptors cause physiological imbalances. In humans, for example, obesity, diabetes and bone decalcification can be consequences of this kind of
hormonal imbalance. Endocrine disruptors fall into the following three categories:
1) mimics, which set off the same chemical reactions as natural hormones and are recognized by the body as if they actually were hormones;
2) blockers, which prevent naturally-produced hormones from entering cells by "locking up" the cell receptors; and
3) triggers, which set off cell reactions that would not normally be produced by hormones.(The Endocrine Disrupter Resource Center, Web site, January 1999.)
Half of the substances known or suspected to be endocrine disruptors are part of the organochlorine group.(see Appendix 5.1: List of Known and Suspected
Endocrine Disruptors, Reference: Annex 5, PESTICIDES - MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT, Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, Parliament of Canada. May 2000
"Even minute concentrations (parts/trillion) of these products in the human body would be enough to affect the endocrine system. At this point in time, scientists
are divided on the extent of this problem. Most believe that more intensive research is essential if we are to have a proper understanding of the endocrine disruptor
phenomenon. Some believe that most of the substances studied seem to have at least a low impact on mammals (including humans). Others think that the effects
of endocrine disrupting chemicals are seen mainly in the fetus and in developing children. Still others suggest that the scope of effects may vary depending on a
host of parameters.
On this point, the World Wildlife Fund believes that the more research is done on endocrine disruptors, the more scientists realize the extent of the health problems
for which these products are probably responsible:
Approximately 60% of the poundage of contemporary-use pesticides -- these would be agricultural pesticides -- used in the United States, which compares almost
identically with the list of pesticides used in Canada, are known endocrine disruptors [...]. The evidence for these statistics comes from peer-reviewed scientific
literature and government reports. The list is continuing to expand as new research is published.(Evidence, Meeting No. 5, November 17, 1999.)
Pesticides suspected of acting as endocrine disruptors appear to be linked to the development of breast, prostate and testicular cancers, endometriosis, abnormal
sexual development, lowered male fertility, damage to the thyroid and pituitary glands, lowered immunity, and behavioural problems. A Canadian study published
in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggested pollution was one of the main causes of the average annual 2% increase in testicular cancer (60% over
the past 30 years) noted in 1999.*B. Evenson, "More Men Suffer Testicular Cancer: Something Strange is Going On,'' National Post, January 26, 1999, p. A1.
The results of another study indicate that growing children and fetal development are particularly vulnerable to pesticides.*Toronto Public Health Environmental
Protection Office, Pesticides: A Public Health Perspective, Technical Report, October 30, 1998. Dr. Kelly Martin stated:
... endocrine disruption is a big problem. In animal studies, it's well shown that you don't have the development of a penis, or you get something that's somewhere
between the penis and the clitoris in animals when they're exposed to pesticides. In kids, we know we have increased rates of cryptorchidism, in which you don't
have descent of the testes and you don't have normal sperm counts. We know we have that in society in general. It's a very big problem, but to link it to these
things is very difficult. We haven't had the money, so the studies haven't been done. But certainly in animal studies it has been a very big concern, and there's a
big push from a lot of people to get more human evidence on this.*Evidence, Meeting No. 11, December 1, 1999." (Reference: PESTICIDES - MAKING
THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and
Sustainable Development, Parliament of Canada. May 2000).
The organochlorine, Dieldrin, mimics naturally occurring hormones and interferes with the hormone or endocrine system. Some scientists have noted a synergistic
effect when dieldrin is mixed with other pesticides: for instance, chlordane increases dieldrin's hormone disrupting potential. Like other endocrine disruptors, dieldrin
may be involved in the development of breast cancer. Even though it is no longer used in a number of countries, dieldrin's persistence in the environment has led
scientists to study its long-term health effects. A substance with a half-life of 182 days is considered persistent: dieldrin's half-life is estimated to be between
182 days and 7 years.
Carbamates - Well known carbamates: carbofuran, aldicarb, and carbaryl. A number of chronic effects of carbamate exposure have also been reported, including
lowered sperm counts, reduced fertility and lower haemoglobin.(Reference: S.A. Briggs, Basic Guide to Pesticides: Their Characteristics and Hazards, Rachel
Carson Council, 1992, 283 p.)
(Taken from Health Council of the Netherlands,1997. As cited on: http://www.oztoxics.org/cmwg/body%20burden/load.html)
The possible effects of in utero exposure to endocrine disruptors include:-
* Abnormal development of the reproductive system, such as undescended testes and defects (hypospadias and epispadias) of the penis. Feminisation
of the reproductive tract in males and masculinisation in females. Testicular cancer, and clear-cell carcinoma of the cervix or vagina. Decrease in sperm
concentration and quality, and decrease in spermatogenesis.
* Abnormal development of the central nervous system, leading to neurological, cognitive, and behavioural disorders (including effects on sexual behaviour),
smaller head size at birth.
* Other general developmental abnormalities, such as shorter pregnancies, lower birth weight, disturbed hormonal regulation or thyroid gland effects, arrested
growth and effects on sex ratios.
The possible effects of exposure later in life include:-
* Abnormal functioning of the reproductive system, and disturbance of hormonal regulation. In men, this could mean impotence and loss of libido, reduced testes
size and weight, decreased sperm quantity and quality and altered spermatogenesis. In females, problems with breast feeding, menstrual or menopausal problems,
endometriosis, alteration in fertility and an increased rate of abortions.
* An increased incidence of cancers related to hormonal disturbance, such as breast, endometrial, prostate, testicular, ovarian, adrenal and thyroid cancers.
"Pancreatic Effects of EDCs
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) mimic naturally occurring hormones such as estrogen by occupying hormone receptors and triggering a reaction in the
body. Interactions of EDCs with the classical (nuclear) estrogen receptors ER-alpha and ER-ß have been well characterized, and there is also growing
knowledge regarding interactions with nonclassical receptors (found elsewhere, as on the cell membrane). Both classical and nonclassical estrogen
receptors occur throughout the body, reflecting the many roles played by estrogen in regulating the body's functions. This widespread presence also
translates to myriad ways that EDCs could potentially interfere with health. New research now suggests that pancreatic cells are affected by EDC exposure,
with potential health consequences [EHP 113: 969-977]. "
Low Doses Can Impair Glucagon Secretion
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/113-8/ss.html
Tasmania has the highest percentage of people suffering diabetes per capita in Australia.[*] With more than 5000 new cases having been recorded
here in the last three years. That represents an “epidemic that has the potential to cripple the health system according to Christopher Stopp, Tasmanian
chief executive of Diabetes Australia”[*]
[*] Christopher Stopp, Tasmanian chief executive of Diabetes Australia from the article entitled: ‘State's Diabetes Dilemma’, The Examiner, Monday 8th
August 2005. Page 1 and 2. Author: Mark Baker.
It is believed that organophosphate compounds inhibit the enzymes that are essential for the proper functioning of the central nervous system in humans, causing
dizziness and sometimes convulsions that may lead to death.(Reference: Canadian Institute of Child Health, Brief to the Committee; Canadian Public Health
Association, Brief to the Committee).
Synthetic pyrethroids (well known of which are cypermethrin and deltamethrin) inhibit the conduction of certain minerals across the nerve cell membrane in
parasites and block the transmission of nerve impulses. The effects of synthetic pyrethroids on humans are still very poorly understood,( U.S. Geological Survey,
Web site, November 1999) but some sources note, at most, that these pesticides can cause irritations.(University of Nebraska, Web site, Pesticide Education
Resources, February 2000.) Pyrethroids are often combined with other active ingredients.
A reported chronic effect of carbamate exposure is lowered haemoglobin. (Reference: S.A. Briggs, Basic Guide to Pesticides: Their Characteristics and Hazards,
Rachel Carson Council, 1992, 283 p.)
Phenoxy herbicides: Well known phenoxy herbicides: 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, dichlorprop, mecoprop. While the effects of phenoxy herbicides on plants are well known, their
effects on mammals are poorly understood. It is suspected that this group of pesticides stimulates cancer development, delays fetal development, and promotes
mutations and other problems. (Reference: S.A. Briggs, Basic Guide to Pesticides: Their Characteristics and Hazards, Rachel Carson Council, 1992, 283 p).
It is suspected that this phenoxy pesticides promote mutations (as well as stimulates cancer development, delays fetal development and other problems).
(Reference: S.A. Briggs, Basic Guide to Pesticides: Their Characteristics and Hazards, Rachel Carson Council, 1992, 283 p).
Heart disease:
"There is no doubt in my mind that the widespread use of the new insecticides is implicated in the alarming rise in the incidence of deaths from heart attacks and
other forms of vascular disease, especially in relatively young persons. That exposure to the newer insecticides actually causes a rise in blood cholesteral in
human beings, both Dr. F. M. Pottenger, Jr. in California and I have repeatedly observed. Dr. Pottenger informs me that the general level of blood cholesterol in
his patients in 1950 is much higher than in 1945. He has seen variants of the syndrome I have described in about one third of his patients. In addition to this
effect DDT is known to increase the excitability of the heart muscle in animals, and it causes disturbances in heart rate and blood pressure in man, effects we
have repeatedly observed. The combination of a narrowed coronary artery and the latter effects make DDT even more potentially disastrous." Morton S.
Biskind, M.D.---Presented before the Select Committee to Investiate the Use of Chemicals in Food Products, United States House of Representatives, U.S.
December 12, 1950.
www.geocities.com/harpub/biskclin.htm