OCCUPATIONAL RISK FROM PESTICIDES

A great number of workers are exposed to pesticides on the job. While studies have mainly focused on the exposure and health risks to farmers, pesticide applicators and workers in pesticide manufacturing and formulating facilities, other workers are also at risk. These include: horticultural workers, airline crews, employees of electrical utilities, parks workers, veterinarians, food service workers, military personnel, textile workers, and forestry employees. Workers constitute the most intensely and chronically exposed group in our society. Studies have shown that less than 0.1% of applied pesticides actually reach the target pest, with the remainder spreading out into the environment, with consequent effects on workers, bystanders, consumers, wildlife, air, soil and water. Acute worker exposures can be limited by using protective equipment and by adhering to re-entry times into sprayed fields, but these measures are less effective in practice than in theory. They also fail to protect workers from the chronic health effects of pesticides, which are in industrialized countries such as Canada much more important than acute effects. European surveys found that 20% of farmworkers consider they have been made ill, poisoned, or otherwise adversely affected by pesticides. The most common symptoms were headaches, skin irritation, stomach pain, vomiting, eye irritation, and diarrhea. A significant minority of sufferers experienced symptoms associated with insult to the nervous system fatigue, difficulty in concentration, difficulty in muscle control and co-ordination of movement, and trembling and the respiratory system (allergies, various respiratory problems). U.S. government data suggest that more than 20,000 American farmworkers suffer from acute pesticide poisoning each year. The World Resources Institute puts the number much higher 300,000. Data collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation show that the two most common sources of exposure leading to pesticide-related illnesses are drift from pesticide spraying (44%) and field residues (33%). Within any population there are sub-populations at higher risk. There are an estimated 13,000 migrant farm workers in Canada, 10,000 in Ontario. Most Ontario workers come from Jamaica and Mexico and spend seven months of the year engaged in picking fruit and other agricultural labour. Pesticide-induced injuries are visible in field workers, with labourers suffering from swollen eyes and mouth sores. Like other farm workers, migrant workers are not covered by many kinds of worker protection, with the exception of workers compensation.

Efforts to regulate pesticides and to reduce risks from pesticide exposure must place a high priority of protection of workers. The following charts illustrate the health consequences to workers exposed to pesticides on the job; it is not a comprehensive review.

CANCERS
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma Rectal cancer Brain, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, prostate and large intestine Multiple myeloma, stomach, prostate, testes, mouth, pharynx, lungs and liver. Liver cancer Prostate cancer

POPULATION STUDIED
American and Canadian farmers and pesticide applicators Icelandic licensed pesticide users American golf course superintendents American farmers and farmworkers

PESTICIDE INVOLVED (IF SPECIFIED)

Chlorophenoxy herbicides

STUDY FINDING
Increased risk from exposure123 Fourfold increase4 Greater mortality 5 Increased incidence 6

Egyptian workers Licensed pesticide applicators in Florida Agricultural workers in French vineyards

Risk factor7 Higher rate8 Higher rate9

Brain cancer

REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES
Spontaneous abortion

POPULATION STUDIED
Women exposed to pesticides in agricultural or horticultural occupations Women exposed to pesticides in agricultural or horticultural occupations Offspring of agricultural workers in California Banana and pineapple plantation workers in Latin America and the Philippines

PESTICIDE INVOLVED (IF SPECIFIED)

STUDY FINDING
5 of 7 studies (various countries) found higher incidence, from 1.3 to 5.5 times the rate of control 10111213141516 groups 4 of 4 studies (various countries) found higher incidence, from 2.2 to 5.7 times the rate of control 171819 groups 3-14 times the rate of the general U.S. population 20 Azoospermia: 24% of workers overall, 44.6% of Philippine workers Oligospermia: 40.3% of workers overall, 45.4% of 21 Philippine workers 22 Higher rates

Stillbirth

Limb reduction birth defects Azoospermia (absence of sperm), and oligospermia (low sperm count)

DBCP

Sperm aneuploidy (extra or missing chromosomes)

Chinese pesticide factory workers

Ethyl parathion and methamidophos

EFFECTS ON CHILDREN OF WORKERS

Brain tumours

POPULATION STUDIED
Offspring of Norwegian farmers aged 0-14 years

PESTICIDE INVOLVED

STUDY FINDINGS

Double the risk of brain tumours if there had been a pesticide purchase on the farm 23

Neuroepithelial cancer

Offspring of Norwegian farmers aged 0-14 years Offspring of licensed pesticide applicators, offspring born in areas of high chlorophenoxy herbicide/fungicide use, infants conceived in the spring (Minnesota) Offspring of licensed pesticide applicators in Minnesota Sons of female gardeners in Denmark

Birth defects

Triple the risk if there had been a pesticide purchase on the farm24 Increased rate 25

Birth rate

Half the normal rate26

Cryptorchidism

Significantly higher rates

27

IMMUNE SYSTEM EFFECTS

Immune system Overall mortality

POPULATION STUDIED
Farmworkers in former Soviet Union Filipino rice farmers

PESTICIDE INVOLVED (IF SPECIFIED)

STUDY FINDING
Abnormalities 28 29 30 31 Rose when pesticide use increased (wives and nonfarming neighbours rates did not rise) 32 Various impairments 33

Immune system

Agricultural pesticide applicators in Germany

NEUROLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EFFECTS

Neurological effects

POPULATION STUDIED
Egyptian cotton farmers

PESTICIDE INVOLVED (IF SPECIFIED)

STUDY FINDING

Psychiatric disorders

Egyptian pesticide applicators in cotton fields

Neurological and psychiatric symptoms

Neurological and psychiatric symptoms

UK sheep farmers who use organophosphate pesticides in sheep dipping Female Polish greenhouse workers

Organophosphates

Organophosphates

Neurological effects Parkinsons Disease

Pesticide applicators in New York State Occupationally exposure to herbicides and insecticides (American men and women)

Organophosphates

Superficial or deep sensory loss, decreased or lost reflexes. 34 Double the incidence in a control group: chronic depression, low selfesteem, poor concentration and feelings of hopelessness. 35 Close to 20% show signs of nerve damage and signs of anxiety and depression. 36 Longer reaction times, reduced motor steadiness, increased tension, greater depression and fatigue, and more frequent symptoms of CNS disturbances. 37 Peripheral nervous system abnormalities 38 Approximately fourfold increased risk 39

OTHER EFFECTS
Musculo-skeletal system

POPULATION STUDIED
UK farmers involved in sheep-dipping Workers at Polish pesticide manufacturing facility

PESTICIDE INVOLVED (IF SPECIFIED)

Organophosphates

STUDY FINDING
Significantly decreased bone density at the femoral joint 40 impairment of pulmonary ventilation, development of chronic bronchitis, and impairment of respiratory muscle function. 41 Higher levels of DNA damage 42 Chromosomal aberrations
43

Respiratory system

DNA DNA

Italian greenhouse workers Workers at a Russian herbicide manufacturing facility

2,4-D & 2,4,5-T

For more information, please contact: World WIldlife Fund Canada 245 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 410 Toronto, ON M4P 3J1 1-800-26-PANDA www.wwf.ca

Endnotes
1

Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF, Boysen CD, Robel RJ, Hoover R, Fraumeni JF Jr. 1986. Agricultural herbicide use and risk of lymphoma and soft-tissue sarcoma. JAMA Sep 5;256(9):1141-7. 2 Hoar, ZS, Weisenburger, DD, Babbitt, PA et al. 1988. A Case Control Study of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Agricultural Factors in Eastern Nebraska. American Journal of Epidemiology 128: 901. 3 Zahm SH, Weisenburger DD, Babbitt PA, Saal RC, Vaught JB, Cantor KP, Blair A. 1990. A case-control study of nonHodgkin's lymphoma and the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in eastern Nebraska. Epidemiology Sep;1(5):349-56. 4 Zhong Y, Rafnsson V. 1996. Cancer incidence among Icelandic pesticide users. Int J Epidemiol Dec. 25(6):1117-24. 5 Kross BC, Burmeister LF, Ogilvie LK, Fuortes LJ, Fu CM 1996. Proportionate mortality study of golf course superintendents. Am J Ind Med May; 29(5):501-6. 6 Zahm, S.H. and A. Blair. 1993. Cancer among migrant and seasonal farmworkers: An epidemiologic review and research agenda. Am. J. Ind. Med., 24: 753-766. 7 Badawi AF, Michael MS. 1999. Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt: The role of hepatitis-B viral infection and schistosomiasis. Anticancer Res Sep-Oct;19(5C):4565-9. 8 Fleming LE, Bean JA, Rudolph M, Hamilton K 1999. Mortality in a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators in Florida. Occup Environ Med Jan;56(1):14-21. 9 Viel JF, Challier B, Pitard A, Pobel D. 1998. Brain cancer mortality among French farmers: The vineyard pesticide hypothesis. Arch Environ Health Jan-Feb; 53(1):65-70. 10 Hemminki K, Niemi ML, Saloniemi I et al. 1980. Spontaneous abortions by occupation and social class in Finland. Int J Epidem 9:149-153. 11 Lindbohm ML, Hemminki K, Kyyronen P. 1984. Parental occupational exposure and spontaneous abortions in Finland. Am J Epidem 120:370-378. 12 McDonald AD, McDonald JC, Armstrong B et al. 1987. Occupation and pregnancy outcome. Br J Ind Med 44:521-526. 13 Heidam LZ. 1984. Spontaneous abortions among dental assistants, factory workers, painters, and gardening workers: A follow-up study. J Epidemiol Comun Health 38:149-155. 14 Rita P, Reddy PP, Venkatram R. 1987. Monitoring of workers occupationally exposed to pesticides in grape gardens of Andhra Pradesh. Environ Res. 44:1-5. 15 Restrepo M, Munoz N, Day NE, et al. 1990. Prevalence of adverse reproductive outcomes in a population occupationally exposed to pesticides in Columbia. Scand J Work Environ Health16:232-238. 16 Hemminki K, Mutanen P, Saloniemi I, et al. 1982. Spontaneous abortions in hospital staff engaged in sterilizing instruments with chemical agents. Br Med J 285:1461-1463. 17 Restrepo M et al., op. cit. 18 Goulet L, Theriault G. 1991. Stillbirth and chemical exposure of pregnant workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 17:2531. 19 Rupa DS, Reddy PP, Reddi OS. 1991. Reproductive performance in population exposed to pesticides in cotton fields in India. Environ Research 55:123-128. 20 Schwartz, DL, L.A. Newsum and R. Markowitz-Heifetz. 1986. Parental occupation and birth outcome in an agricultural community. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, 12: 51-54. 21 Shutsky, Morley et al. 1999. Azoospermia and Oligospermia among a Large Cohort of DBCP Applicators in 12 Countries. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health 5(2), April/June, pp. 116-122. 22 Padungtod C, Hassold TJ, Millie E, Ryan LM, Savitz DA, Christiani DC, Xu X. 1999. Sperm aneuploidy among Chinese pesticide factory workers: scoring by the FISH method. Am J Ind Med Aug;36(2):230-8. 23 Kristensen P, Andersen A, Irgens LM, Bye AS, Sundheim L. 1996. Cancer in offspring of parents engaged in agricultural activities in Norway: incidence and risk factors in the farm environment. Int J Cancer 1996 Jan 3;65(1):39-50 24 Ibid. 25 Garry, V.G., D. Schreinemachers, M.E. Harkins and J.Griffth. 1996. Pesticide appliers, biocides, and birth defects in rural Minnesota. Envir. Health Persp., 104: 394-399. 26 Ibid. 27 Weidner IS, Moller H, Jensen TK, Skakkebaek, NE. 1998. Cryptorchidism and hypospadias in sons of gardeners and farmers, Environ Health Perspect Dec., 106(12):793-6. 28 Bakhritdinov, SS. 1991. Hygienic Studies of a Real Load on a Population in the Region with Intensive Utilization of Agrichemicals [Actual Problems of Food and Hygiene in Uzbekistan], (Collection of Scientific Works, Tashkent: 1991), p. 1119 (in Russian). Cited in: Repetto, Robert and Sanjay S. Baliga. 1996. Pesticides and the Immune System: The Public Health Risks. World Resources Institute.

Davidyan, A.., VI Krivoruchko, NA Azylova, LP Savazova, and ES Rusanova. 1986. [Allergic Diseases of the Respiratory Tract Under conditions of Agri-Industrial Pollution], (Immunodeficiencies and Allergy: Summaries of the Republic All-Union Symposium), Moskow: 1986, p. 240-241 (in Russian). Cited in: Repetto and Baliga, op. cit. 30 Iskandanderov, TI. 1986. [Current Aspects of Hygiene in Utilization of Pesticides in Cotton-Growing Regions of Uzbekistan], (Hygiene and toxicology of Pesticides, Polymers, and Plastics, volume 16), Institute of Hygiene and Toxicology of Pesticides, Polymers, and Plastics, Kiev: 1986, p. 28-31 (in Russian). Cited in: Repetto and Baliga, op. cit. 31 Kovtyukh, LP. 1995. The Influence of Pesticides on the Immune System of Populations in the Former USSR. Report prepared for the World Resources Institute, Program in Economics and Population, Moldovian Branch of Ecological and Genetic Monitoring, Kishinev: 1995. Cited in: Repetto and Baliga, op. cit. 32 Leovinsohn, ME. 1987. Insecticide use and Increased Mortality in Rural Central Luzon, Philippines. The Lancet, June 13, 1987, 1359-1362, cited in: Repetto, Robert and Sanjay S. Baliga. 1996. Pesticides and the Immune System: The Public Health Risks. World Resources Institute. 33 Stiller-Winkler R, Hadnagy W, Leng G, Straube E. 1999. Immunological parameters in humans exposed to pesticides in the agricultural environment. Toxicol Lett Jun 30;107(1-3): 219-24. 34 Amr, .M. et al. 1994. Neurological effects of pesticides: study by the Industrial Medicine and Occupational Diseases Faculty of Medicine-Cairo University. Paper presented at the 5th International Symposium of Neurobehavioural Methods and Effects in Occupational and Environmental Health. Cairo. Cited in: Egyptian studies confirm pesticide-related health effects in farm and factory. Pesticides News No. 30, December 1995, page 10. 35 Amr, M. et al. 1994. Screening for psychiatric morbidity in Egyptian pesticide applicators: Department of Occupational Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Cairo University, Egypt. Paper presented at the 5th International Symposium of Neurobehavioural Methods and Effects in Occupational and Environmental Health, Cairo. Cited in: Egyptian studies confirm pesticide-related health effects in farm and factory. Pesticides News No. 30, December 1995, page 10. 36 Institute of Occupational Medicine (UK), Epidemiological study of the relationships between exposure to organophosphate pesticides and indices of chronic peripheral neuropathy, and neuropsychological abnormalities in sheep farmers and dippers, May 1999. 37 Bazylewicz-Walczak B, Majczakowa W, Szymczak M. 1999. Behavioral effects of occupational exposure to organophosphorous pesticides in female greenhouse planting workers. Neurotoxicology Oct., 20(5):819-26. 38 Horowitz SH, Stark A, Marshall E, Mauer MP. 1999. A multi-modality assessment of peripheral nerve function in organophosphate-pesticide applicators. J Occup Environ Med May, 41(5):405-8. 39 Gorell JM, Johnson CC, Rybicki BA, Peterson EL, Richardson RJ. 1998. The risk of Parkinson's disease with exposure to pesticides, farming, well water, and rural living. Neurology May, 50(5):1346-50. 40 Hodges, Stephen. 1999. Organophosphate insecticides and the skeleton. PEX (Pesticide Exposure) Newsletter No.4, September 1999. 41 Kossmann S, Konieczny B, Hoffmann A. 1997. The role of respiratory muscles in the impairment of the respiratory system function in the workers of a chemical plant division producing pesticides. Przegl Lek 54(10):702-6. 42 Munnia A, Puntoni R, Merlo F, Parodi S, Peluso M. 1999. Exposure to agrochemicals and DNA adducts in Western Liguria, Italy. Environ Mol Mutagen 34(1):52-6. 43 Kaioumova DF, Khabutdinova LK. 1998. Cytogenetic characteristics of herbicide production workers in Ufa. Chemosphere Oct-Nov;37(9-12):1755-9.

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