Pesticide

PESTICIDES:
IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENT A chemical used for controlling,
Dr. Lynn R. Panganiban preventing, destroying, repelling or
Head mitigating troublesome or destructive
National Poison Management & Control Center animals, mostly insects; it is an inherently
UP College of Medicine-Philippine General Hospital
poisonous, non-selective substance that
can also harm man and the environment.

Pesticides are inherently

poisonous, non-selective substance that
can also harm man and the environment!

PESTICIDES ARE POISONS !!!

PESTICIDES HARM THE ENVIRONMENT

TOXICITY RATING :
FERTILIZER & PESTICIDE AUTHORITY Many pesticides are persistent organic pollutants
(POPs).
POPs). They move long distances, taken up the
food chain, and accumulate everywhere.
Categor Signal Color Toxicity ORAL ORAL DERMAL DERMAL
y Words Band LD50 LD50 LD50 LD50 Examples: DDT, Endrin,
Endrin, Lindane,
Lindane, Endosulfan
(mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg)
Solid Liquid Solid Liquid Widespread application of pesticides leads to
I DANGER Red Extremely < 50 < 200 < 100 < 400
drifting and contamination of land and waterways
POISON Toxic
II WARNING Yellow Highly 50-
50-500 200-
200-2,000 100-
100- 400-
400-
HARMFUL Toxic 1,000 4,000

III CAUTION Blue Moderately 500-

500- 2,000-
2,000-3,000 > 1,000 > 4,000
Toxic 2,000

IV - Green Least > 2,000 > 3,000 N.A. N.A.

Toxic

1
 PESTICIDES HARM THE ENVIRONMENT
PESTICIDES HARM THE ENVIRONMENT
Pesticide residues in soil contaminate crops
subsequently grown on the same land Pesticides use leads to the creation of
more toxic pesticides, which eventually
Pesticides in contaminated crops used as
become also ineffective
animal feed eventually are found in meat and
dairy products

Pesticides in soil eventually

contaminate ground water,
the source of drinking water

PESTICIDES HARM THE ENVIRONMENT PESTICIDES HARM THE ENVIRONMENT

Pesticide use leads to loss of biodiversity and

Pesticides kill non-target
organisms, wildlife, birds,
fish, bees, beneficial
insects, and pest’s natural
enemies
upsets delicate balance of ecosystems
Pesticides use leads to emergence of more
destructive pests and, subsequently, increased
crop losses

Residues in Food
Pesticide residue It is not desirable that pesticide
is that fraction of a residues remain in crops once these
pesticide which has are sold or consumed since the residues
found its way into the can create a potential source of harm
produce or soil and to consumers.
is present there either
in the form of a
parent compound or
significant degradation
product(s), or as a
“bound residue.”

2
 Residues in soil and water
Environmental persistence of organochlorines
expressed as soil half-lives
Insecticide Half-
Half-life in soil (years)
Aldrin 1-4
Chlordane 2-4
DDT 3-10
Dieldrin 1-7
Endrin 4-8
Heptachlor 7-12
Lindane 2
Toxaphene 10

High Risk Populations :

High Risk Populations : WORKERS:

ƒ Agricultural formulating plant, vector
control
9 WORKERS : Direct exposure ƒ Mixers, loaders, sprayers, flagmen

9 WOMEN: Direct or secondary exposure

9 CHILDREN: Direct or secondary exposure

High Risk Populations :

High Risk Populations :
CHILDREN:
WOMEN:
ƒ Exposure patterns and susceptibility are different
Because regeneration ƒ Factors: Physical location, breathing zones, oxygen
consumption, food consumption, type of food consumed,
of germ cells growth and development factors
ƒ Transplacental and breast milk
does not occur
in females,
the outcome(s)
of damage to oocytes
can be significant.

3
 Health Effects :
ƒ ACUTE
9 CNS: Dizziness, headache, tremors,
seizures, coma
ACUTE EFFECTS CHRONIC EFFECTS
9 CVS: Cardiac irregularities,
hypertension
9 Respiratory: Difficulty of
breathing
9 GIT: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
salivation
9 Integument: Rashes, sweating

Pesticide poisoning in selected hospitals in

four regions in the Philippines

• April 1,2000 - March 31, 2001

• Luzon: Region II, CAR
Visayas: Region VI
ACUTE EFFECTS Mindanao: Region XI
• Pesticide Exposure Record
(IPCS)
• Number of hospitals:
Region II: 7
CAR: 9
Region VI: 7
Region XI: 15

Pesticide poisoning in selected hospitals in Pesticide

Pesticidepoisoning
poisoningininselected
selectedhospitals
hospitalsin
in
four regions in the Philippines four
fourregions
regionsin
inthe
thePhilippines
Philippines

Severity of Poisoning
Clinical Manifestations:
9.10% 5.60%
 Vomiting is the most common finding
 Diarrhea : anticoagulant, zinc phosphide, organochlorine
 Seizures: organochlorine, aniline
 Coma: organochlorine, aniline
3.40%
51.90%
 Drowsiness: carbamate, aniline, organophosphate

None Minor Moderate Severe

4
Pesticide poisoning in selected hospitals in
four regions in the Philippines

CASE REPORT:
Duration of Hospital Stay
180 166 E.V., 53/female, was rushed to the hospital because of malathion
poisoning. She drank this pesticide because of long standing
160
personal problem. She presented with nausea and vomiting.
140
Number of patients

Two days later, she developed muscle weakness of both

120 upper and lower extremities and eventually involving the
86 respiratory muscles. She also developed muscle fasciculations.
100
80 She stayed for over a month because of malathion complications.
Upon discharged, she still has weakness of extremities which
60
eventually resolved after 3 months.
40
15 5
20
0
D1-2 D3-4 D5-6 > D7
Days of confinement

CASE REPORT:

V. M., 38/female was admitted for non-accidental of Profenofos

after an argument with a cousin. At the emergency room,
ACUTE ON CHRONIC EFFECTS She presented with mild signs of poisoning which consisted
of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and dizziness.
she was treated and eventually discharged after a week’s stay
in the hospital. Patient is a laundry woman but she helps her
Husband in the field with weeding and harvesting of vegetables.
Her red cell cholinesterase level revealed a level of 0.033 Ì pH/hr
Interpreted as severe red cell cholinesterase depression.

Health Effects :
ƒ CHRONIC

CHRONIC EFFECTS 9 Endocrine disruption (thyroid, reproductive)

9 Cardiovascular (hypertension)
9 CNS (neuropathies)
9 Cancer
9 Bone marrow effects
9 Skin lesions
9 Cytogenetic/immunotoxic effects

5
 Experiences felt by Benguet vegetable farmers when
handling/mixing/spraying pesticides (1994)
Cheng (1994)
“Pesticides and Its hazardous Effects on Number Percentage
the Benguet Vegetable Farmers”
Dry skin,dry itchy hands, face,
JPMA 69(3,4):169-1988 feet, dry cracking lips 1410 70.5
Itchy watery red eyes, blurred vision 1320 66.0
Abdominal pain/gas pain 1010 50.5
Among 2,000 Benguet vegetable farmers, Dizziness/feeling of nausea 850 42.5
common complaints included allergic reactions Body malaise/fatigue 780 39.0
Dry throat, sore throat, whitish
both in the skin and the eyes, abdominal pain, spots appearing in the tongue 760 38.0
dizziness, chest pain, headache and nose bleeding. Chest pain, tight chest 560 28.0
Inappetens or loss of appetite 490 24.5
Unbearable headache followed
by vomiting 320 16.0
Uncontrolled flow of saliva 270 13.5
Epistaxis 250 12.5
Neck pain, muscle cramps 160 8.0
Discolored nails/irregular nails/falling nails 20 1.0

A Cross-sectional Study on the Health Effects of

Pregnancy outcome among farming Ethylenebisdithiocarbamate Exposure Among
households: (Crisostomo, 2000) Plantation Workers (NPCIS, 2001)

•Retrospective study (1998- 1999)

88 banana plantation workers (PW)
345 pregnancies (CPU)
44 organic farm workers (OW)
331 pregnancies (IPM)
RESULTS:
RESULTS:
Pregnancy Outcomes CPU IPM
Plantation workers had significantly more clinical complaints,
higher incidence of absenteeism due to work-related
Spontaneous abortions 4.06% 0.60%
illnesses and abnormal physical findings compared to the
Preterm births 1.16% 3.02% organic farm workers.
Birth defects 3.48% 0.91%

Findings: Respiratory complaints (p=0.007), integument

Adjusted Risk Ratio for spontaneous (p=0.036). 70% of workers had abnormal neurologic findings
abortion is 6.17 (p=0.001)
Adjusted Risk Ratio for birth defect cases is 4.56

Correlation between Blood Ethylenethiourea and

Thyroid Gland Disorders among Banana Plantation
Workers in the Philippines
Environmental Health Perspectives. 2004; 112(1), 42-45 ƒThe prevalence rate for nodular goiters in
Lynn Panganiban , Nelia Cortes-Maramba, Carissa Dioquino,
this study (6.8/100 population) was higher than
Maria Lurenda Suplido, Herbert Ho, Ana Francisco-Rivera,
that of the 1993 national nutrition survey (0.2/
and Aiyn Manglicmot-Yabes
100 population), and 3x higher than the control
(2/100 population).

ƒ Finding of solitary nodules among exposed group

• Elevated blood and urine ETU levels among PW (p=<001) is significant because in 95% of cases, thyroid
•TSH levels were higher among the PW (P=0.142) cancer presents as a nodule or lump in the
•Very good correlation between size of solitary nodule and thyroid gland, usually solitary.
blood ETU levels (r2=0.956, p=0.001)

6
 Guilette E. Environmental Health Perspectives.
1998; 106:347-53

ƒ The finding of a direct correlation between
the size of the solitary nodule and blood ETU
levels is important because solitary nodules
can be malignant.
9 Two groups of 4 and 5 year old children
9 Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico
9 1st group: valley where pesticide use was relatively intense
9 2nd group: foot hills where pesticide use was minimal
9 Rapid Assessment Tool to measure growth and development

ƒ The persistently high levels of ETU in the blood

can increase the likelihood for the rapid
growth of the thyroid nodule.
RESULTS: Valley children showed less stamina ( or physical
endurance, measured by making the child jump in place for as
long as possible); lower motor or hand-eye coordination
(ability to catch a large ball from a distance) and even lower
fine eye-hand coordination (ability to drop a raisin into a
bottle cap); and poorer short-term memory.

Guilette E. Environmental Health Perspectives.1998; 106:347-53

Most striking difference: ABILITY TO DRAW A PERSON

MORTALITY

The decreased eye-hand coordination and ability to draw :

impairment of brain function.

Type of pesticide and case fatality rate, Type of pesticide and case fatality rate,
1982-1985, Department of Health 1991-1995, Department of Health
Type Cases Deaths CFR
Organophosphates 714 (42.0%) 116 (35.0%) 16.2
Organochlorines 326 (19.1%) 161 (48.5%) 49.4 Type Cases Deaths CFR
Carbamates 238 (14.0%) 10 (3.0%) 4.2 Organophosphates 215 (64.6%) 41 19.1
Pyrethroids 20 (1.2%) - 0.0 Organochlorines 49 (14.7%) 16 32.6
Chlorophenoxy cpds 18 (1.1%) 1 (0.3%) 5.6 Carbamates 9 (2.7%) 2 22.2
Rodenticides 21 (1.2%) - 0.0 Pyrethroids 27 (8.1%) 1 3.7
Fungicides 2 (0.1%) - 0.0 Chlorophenoxy
Monocrotophos 14 cpds 9 (2.7%) 2 22.2
Endosulfan 33
Herbicides 22 (1.3%) 2 (0.6%) 9.1 Rodenticides
Piperophos 7 10 (3.0%) DDT 1 1 10.0
Malathion
Mixturea 36 (2.1%) 3 (0.9%) 8.3 Fungicides63
Bionex
1 (0.3%) 0
Unspecified 15 0.0
DEATHS: Monocrotophos 6
Othersb 39 (2.2%) 3 (0.9%) 7.7 Herbicides
Diazinon 2 9 (2.7%)
Methylparathion 1 0 0.0
No information 268 (15.7%) 36 (10.8%) 13.4 Mixturea 1
Chlorpyrifos 7 (2.1%) 0 0.0
Ethyl azinphos 1
TOTAL 1704 332 19.4 TOTAL 1
Methylparathion 333 63 18.9
Unspecified
aIncludes180
aIncludes organophosphate and carbamate, organochlorine and organophosphate,carbamate, and pyrethroid
organophosphate, organophosphate and pyrethroid, etc. b Includes
potassium nitrate, plant regulator, urea, etc.

7
Type of pesticide & case fatality rate, Pesticide poisoning in selected hospitals in
Department of Health four regions in the Philippines

Type 1982-1985 1991-1995 Type Cases

Organophosphates 59 (18.0%)
Organophosphate 42.0% 64.6% Organochlorines 9 (2.7%)
Carbamates 31 (9.5%)
Organochlorine 19.1% 14.7% Malathion 22
Chlorpyrifos 14 Pyrethroids 89 (27.2%)
Pyrethroid 1.2% 8.1% Diazinon 11 Chlorophenoxy cpds 13 (4.0%)
Ethofenprox 3 Zinc phosphide 7 (2.1%)
Methamidophos 2
Oxadiazon 2 Aniline Endosulfan 8 10 Cypermethrin
(3.0%) 60
Deltramethrin 12
Dimethoate 1 Thiocarbamates
Aldrin 1 3 (1.2%)
Lambdacyalothrin 12
Type CFR CFR Edifenphos 1 Mixturea 26 Cyfluthrin
(7.9%) 2
Methyl parathion 1
1982-
1982-1985 1991-
1991-1995 Monocrotophos 1 Others 12 Fenvalerate
(3.6%) 2
Hexythiazox 1
Triazophos 1 No information 68 (20.8%)
Organophosphates 16.2 19.1
TOTAL 327
Organochlorines 49.4 32.6
aIncludes
organophosphate and carbamate, organochlorine and
Pyrethroids 0.0 3.7
organophosphate, organophosphate and pyrethroid, etc.

Pesticide poisoning in selected hospitals in

four regions in the Philippines

Type Deaths CFR

Organophosphates 6 10.2
Organochlorines 2 22.2
Carbamates
Chlorpyrifos 3 2 6.4
Malathion 2
Pyrethroids
Methyl parathion 1
2 2.2
Chlorophenoxy cpds 1 7.7
Rodenticides 0 0.0 94.4% of deaths:
Aniline 1 10.0
Bipyridyl 1 severe
Mixturea 1 3.8
Organophosphonate 1
No information 1
TOTAL 18 5.5
aIncludesorganophosphate and carbamate, organochlorine and
organophosphate, organophosphate and pyrethroid, etc. b Includes
potassium nitrate, plant regulator, urea, etc.

I. DECREASE THE DEPENDENCY ON CHEMICAL

METHODS OF CROP PROTECTION
II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED
Adopt alternative methods for sustainable ƒ Ratification of International Conventions
agriculture
9 Rotterdam Convention
9 Stockholm Convention
ƒ Integrated Pest Management
ƒ Organic Farming

8
 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
ROTTERDAM CONVENTION
STOCKHOLM CONVENTION
ƒ Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for
Certain Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
ƒ Protection of human health and the environment
from persistent organic pollutants (POPS)
ƒ September 1998
ƒ 9 pesticides: Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin,
ƒ 22 pesticides (2,4,5-T, Aldrin, Captafol, Chordane, Chlordimeform,
Endrin, Hepatachlor, Hexachlorobenzene,
Chlorobenzilate, DDT, Dieldrin, Dinoseb and dinoseb salts,
1,2-dibromoethane, Fluoroacetamide, HCH, Heptachlor,
Mirex, Toxaphene
Hexachlorobenzene, Lindane, Mercury compounds, Pentachlorophenol,
Monocrotophos, Methamidophos, Phosphamidon, Methylparathion,
Parathion)

II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED

ƒ Eliminate illegal trafficking of chemicals ƒ Globally harmonized system

ƒ Eliminate obsolete pesticide stockpiles
9 Classification
9 Labelling

Poison

II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED
ƒ Product stewardship ƒ Good agricultural practice
“Cradle to the Grave”
Choose the least toxic and least persistent
Choose a formulation which combines maximum
efficiency with minimum risk
Apply on the target area only the minimum
amount of pesticide
Select application method which offers
optimum control with minimum contamination

9
 II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED II. DECREASE THE VOLUME OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES USED
ƒ Good agricultural practice
ƒ Banning of pesticides
Time the treatment in relation to vulnerable
ƒ Restriction of pesticides
stages of a pest’s development
Interval between last application and harvest
should be as long as possible to permit the
greatest reduction of pesticide residues
Adjust crop rotation in such a manner that
residues in the edible parts of crops will be
minimal

Recommended Restrictions on Availability of Insecticides

Banned Pesticides in the Philippines
CLASS AVAILABLE TO (Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority 1997)
Ia Extremely hazardous Individually licensed operators
1. Parathion ethyl 19. Aldrin 37. Parapest M 50 EC
only 2. Copper aceto-arsenite 20. Dieldrin 38. Penncap M (ENCAP)
Ib Highly hazardous Well-
Well-trained, educated, strictly 3. DDT containing mosquito coils 21. Heptachlor 39.Wofatox 50 EC/80 EC
supervised operators 4. DBCP 22. Chlordimeform 40. Wofatox Konzentra
5. Nitrogen 23. EDB “1” 50 EC/80 EC
II Moderately hazardous Trained & supervised operators 6. Leptophos 24. HCH/BHC 41. Thiocarb 17 EC
who are known to observe strict 7. EPN 25. Brestan 42. Thiodan 35 WP
precautionary principles 8. Endrin 26. Aquatin EC 43. Thiodan 35 EC
9. Mercuric fungicides 27. Telustan 60 WP 44. Endosulfax 35 EC
III Slightly hazardous Trained operators who observe 10. Toxaphene 28. Torque 50% WP 45. Endox 35 EC
Routine precautionary measures 11. Elemental phosphorous 29. Gusathion 400 EC 46. Thiodan 2.5 G
12. Thalium sulfate 30. Marsathion 10 EC 47/ Endosulfan 36 EC
Unlikely to present acute General public respecting
13. 1-Napthylthiourea (ANTU) 31. Bionex 10 EC
hazard in normal use standard general hygienic 14. Gophacide 32. Telothion 10 EC
measures and observing 15. Sodium fluoroacetate 33. Telothion 10 EC
instructions for use given on the 16. Sodium fluoroacetamide 34. Methyl Fosferno 50 EC
label 17. Stryobhine 35. Methion 50 EC
18. 2,4,5-T 36. Meptox 50 EC

III. DECREASE EMISSION OF PESTICIDES INTO THE ENVIRONMENT

IV. MONITORING SYSTEM
ƒ Integrated Waste Management
ƒ Method of application ƒ Pesticide residue analysis
ƒ Restriction/banning pesticides that are ƒ Environmental monitoring
harmful to the environment

10
 V. DECONTAMINATION

Calls for preventive, anticipatory,

measures to be taken when an
activity raises threats of harm
to environment, wildlife or
human health even if some
cause-and-effect relationships
are not fully established.

“Man has lost

the capacity
to foresee and
to forestall.
He will end
by destroying
the earth.”
Albert Schweitzer “A man reaps what he sows.”
Gal 6:7

Thank you and good day.

11