A Small Dose of Pesticides

• An Introduction into the Health Effects of Pesticides

Pesticides Dossier

Insecticides

• Name: Insecticides
• Use: kill insects
• Source: synthetic chemistry, plants
• Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
• Absorption: intestine, respiratory system (lungs), skin
• Sensitive individuals: fetus, children, and elderly
• Toxicity/symptoms: nervous system, range of problems depending on chemical
• Regulatory facts: RfDs exist for many insecticides. Regulated by EPA.
• General facts: billions of pounds used every year in agriculture, golf courses, around the home, and by commercial real estate
• Environmental: pesticides are used globally; some are very persistent in the environment
• Recommendations: minimize use, avoid exposure to children, and consider alternatives including Integrated Pest Management practices

Herbicides

• Name: Herbicides
• Use: kill or damage plants
• Source: synthetic chemistry, manufactured by industry
• Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
• Absorption: intestine, respiratory system (lungs), skin
• Sensitive individuals: fetus, children, and elderly
• Toxicity/symptoms: varies
• Regulatory facts: References Doses (RfDs) exist for some herbicides. Regulated by the EPA.
• General facts: long history of use; often used in combination with genetically modified plants
• Environmental: widespread global use and contamination
• Recommendations: minimize use, avoid exposure to children, and consider alternatives including Integrated Pest Management practices

Pesticides Chapter

• A Small Dose of Pesticides - chapter pdf

PowerPoint presentation

• A Small Dose of Pesticides - PowerPoint presentation

More Information and References

European, Asian, and international Agencies

• European Union - Chemical and Pesticide Information. (accessed: 30 September 2008). Site contains policy and other information on the use of pesticides in agriculture.

• World Health Organization - WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES). (accessed: 30 September 2008). WHOPES is an "international programme which promotes and coordinates the testing and evaluation of new pesticides proposed for public health use."

• International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). (accessed: 30 September 2008). "IPSC main roles are to establish the scientific basis for safe use of chemicals, and to strengthen national capabilities and capacities for chemical safety."

North American Agencies

• Health Canada - Pesticide Information. (accessed: 30 September 2008). Health Canada provided a range of information on pesticides in English or French.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP). (accessed: 30 September 2008). OPP's mission is "to protect public health and the environment from the risks posed by pesticides and to promote safer means of pest control."

• U.S. Geological Survey - National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. (accessed: 30 September 2008). NAWQA provides an assessment water use in the U.S. and of pesticides in the streams, rivers, and ground water of the United States.

• California Department of Pesticide Regulation. (accessed: 30 September 2008). The mission of this Department is "to protect human health and the environment by regulating pesticide sales and use, and by fostering reduced-risk pest management."

Non-Government Organizations

• Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA). (accessed: 30 September 2008).
  "PANNA works to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives."

• Pesticide Action Network International (PANI). (accessed: 30 September 2008). "PANI is a network of over 600 participating nongovernmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 60 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives (English, French, Spanish)."

• Pesticide Database site - by Pesticide Action Network North America (PAN). (accessed: 30 September 2008). "The PAN Pesticide Database brings together a diverse array of information on pesticides from many different sources, providing human toxicity (chronic and acute), ecotoxicity and regulatory information for about 6,400 pesticide active ingredients and their transformation products, as well as adjuvants and solvents used in pesticide products."

• National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN). Call 1-800-858-7378. (accessed: 30 September 2008). NPTN is based at Oregon State University and is cooperatively sponsored by the University and EPA. NPTN serves as a source of objective, science-based pesticide information on a wide range of pesticide-related topics, such as recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, safety information, health and environmental effects, referrals for investigation of pesticide incidents and emergency treatment for both humans and animals, and cleanup and disposal procedures.

• Beyond Pesticides. (accessed: 30 September 2008). "Beyond Pesticides is a national network committed to pesticide safety and the adoption of alternative pest management strategies which reduce or eliminate a dependency on toxic chemicals."

• EXTOXNET InfoBase. (accessed: 30 September 2008). EXTOXNET provides a variety of information about pesticides, including - the Pesticide Information Profiles (PIPs) for specific information on pesticides and the Toxicology Information Briefs (TIBs) contain a discussion of certain concepts in toxicology and environmental chemistry.

• Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC). (accessed: 30 September 2008). WTC provides information on model pesticide policies, alternatives to home pesticides, and much more.

• Monsanto Company. (accessed: 30 September 2008). Site contains information on Monsanto company pesticides and agricultural products.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles. (accessed: 30 September 2008). Defines IPM principles and provides additional resources.

• University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM). (accessed 30 September 2008). The UC IPM "develops and promotes the use of integrated, ecologically sound pest management programs in California to serve agriculture, urban and community, and natural resources audiences."

• US Federal IPM Coordinating Committee. (accessed 30 September 2008). Provides information to/from the United States Federal IPM Coordinating Committee.

• IPM Institute of North America, Inc. (accessed 30 September 2008). "An independent non-profit organization formed in 1998 to foster recognition and rewards in the marketplace for goods and service providers who practice Integrated Pest Management, or IPM."

• IPMopedia - IPM Education Project. (accessed 30 September 2008). Provides a wide range of information on IPM.

References

• EPA (2004). Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage 2000 and 2001 Market Estimates. (pdf) (access: 8 September 2008)

• EPA (2008). Carbofuran Cancellation Process. US Environmental Protection Agency. (accessed: 2 September 2008)

• Dean, S. R., & Meola, R. W. (2002). Effect of diet composition on weight gain, sperm transfer, and insemination in the cat flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). J Med Entomol, 39(2), 370-375.

• Dryden, M. W., & Gaafar, S. M. (1991). Blood consumption by the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). J Med Entomol, 28(3), 394-400.

• MMWR (1999). Farm worker illness following exposure to carbofuran and other pesticides - Fresno County, California, 1998. February 19, 1999, 48(6), 113-116. Online: <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056485.htm> (accessed: 2 September 2008).