Pesticides

Chronic Exposures
Long-term exposure to pesticides is a source of national concern.  Cancer leads the list in concerns.  
The best scientific data available shows the strongest link is between non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma 
and phenoxyacetic herbicides, such as the commonly used 2,4-D.  Other cancers associated with 
agricultural work in general include lymphomas, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcoma, and brain 
cancer.  An ongoing study of pesticide use and cancer, the Agricultural Health Study, is looking 
at these issues in North Carolina and Iowa.  Other potential concerns related to pesticide use are 
motion disorders and endocrine disrupter effects but the causal effects have not been definitely 
shown in the existing studies.  It is hard to separate pesticide exposures from the other chemical 
and biological exposures (viruses and bacteria) that occur in farming on a regular basis and 
difficult to assign the cause of cancers to any one source.  

The best steps to prevent the development of adverse health effects are to:
o  use proper personal protective clothing and equipment
o  read the labels and apply and mix properly 
o  have water readily available to wash off exposures immediately
o  prevent exposure to family members by washing contaminated clothing separately.


Learning Points
1.  Only organophosphates, and to a lesser degree, carbamates have antidotes
2.  The immediate step to take in pesticide exposure is decontamination, support of vital functions 
     (ABCs), and avoid contaminating others and yourself.
3.  Hearing loss is very common in agriculture and is an important area for preventive strategies.
4.  Zoonoses are less likely to be fatal and are not as common as other illnesses, but may mimic
     more common diseases and require a good occupational/environmental history to diagnose.