Surveillance Data on Pesticide and Agricultural Chemical Releases and Associated Public Health Consequences in Selected US States, 2003–2007

Abstract

Background While pesticides and agricultural chemicals are used to increase crop production and to reduce the spread of disease, their toxic nature also has the potential to threaten human health. Releases of pesticides and agricultural chemicals have resulted in human illness and death. This analysis examines releases of pesticides and agricultural chemicals and their associated injuries captured by the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system from 2003-2007. Methods Simple descriptive statistics are presented. Comparisons were made to data from all HSEES events when possible.Results Analysis of the data shows that farm workers are at particular risk for injury and that the most frequent months for releases of pesticides and agricultural chemicals were the spring planting months of April through June. Releases of pesticides and agricultural chemicals occurred more often during transport, had higher frequencies of patient decontamination associated with them, and lower frequencies of evacuation and shelter-in place orders compared with all HSEES events. Conclusion Since exposures are precipitated by behavioral and environmental factors, especially in occupational settings, future interventions targeting employers, and transporters of agricultural chemicals, as well as physicians, are recommended. These interventions should be customized to fit local conditions.

ANALYSIS OF FARMERS’ INTERNAL FACTORS WITH THE ABILITY TO KNOW HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

“…Pesticides and agricultural chemicals to increase crop production and pest management, but they can simultaneously be harmful to nontargeted organisms, such as humans (Saw et al, 2011). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1-5 million cases of poisoning from pesticides occur in agriculture workers annually (80%) occur in developing countries (Mahmudah et al, 2012).…”

The role of acculturation and training in personal protective equipment (PPE) use among Hispanic farmworkers: A follow-up from the ¡Protejase! study.

“…*Corresponding author can be reached at: sas84@psu.edu Unmitigated pesticide exposures can have significantly negative effects on the health of farmworkers. The consequences of pesticide exposures can include dizziness, headache, uncontrolled sneezing, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, and can extend to chronically raised blood pressure (Saw, Shumway, & Ruckart, 2011;Villarejo et al, 2010). Over the long-term, occupational exposures to pesticides are associated with increased risk of diabetes (Montgomery, Kamel, Saldana, Alavanja, & Sandler, 2008;Paul et al, 2018;Starling et al, 2014), Parkinson's disease (Lesmes-Fabian, 2015;Furlong et al, 2015), respiratory illness (Hoppin, Long et al, 2012;Hoppin, Umbach et al, 2014;Hoppin, Valcin et al, 2007), and several forms of cancer (Alavanja & Bonner, 2012;Alavanja, Hoppin, & Kamel, 2004).…”