STUDY ON ADVERSE EFFECT & APPLICATIONS

OF PESTICIDES ON HUMAN HEALTH

By
SUBICHYA BANIYA

Hetauda School of Management

& Social Sciences
Hetauda-4,Nepal
 Certificate of Approval
The project work entitled “Study on adverse effect and application of
pesticide on human health” by Ms.Subichya Baniya under the supervision
of supervisor Rajan Thapa, Hetauda School Of Management & Social
Sciences, Nepal hereby submitted for the partial fulfillment of the
requirement of chemistry in Grade 11. This work has not been submitted
in any other school or institution previously for Grade 11.

-----------------------------------------
Supervisor Head of Department
Bhola Nath Gautam
Department of Chemistry
Hetauda School of Management & Social Sciences

ii
 Recommendation Letter
This is to certify that the project work entitled
“Study on adverse effect and application of pesticide on human health” has been
carried out by “Subichya Baniya” as a partial fulfillment of Grade 11 in Chemistry
under the supervision. To the best of knowledge,this work has not been submitted
to any other purpose in this institute. I,therefore recommend the project work for
appraisal.

----------------------------
Supervisor (Signature)
Bhola Nath Gautam
Department of Chemistry
Hetauda School of Management
Hetauda,Makwanpur
Date:2080-11-27
iii
 DECLARATION
I, Subichya Baniya declare that the project work entitled “Study on
adverse effect and application of pesticide on human health”
under the supervision of Chemistry Teacher, “Rajan Thapa” of
Hetauda School of Management & Social
Sciences,Nepalpresented herein genuine work done originally
by us and has not been published or submitted elsewhere for
the requirement of any degree program. Any literature, data or
works done by others and cited in this project work has been
given due acknowledgement and listed in the reference section.

iv
----------------------
Signature
Subichya Baniya
Grade 11
Date: 27th Falgun,2080
v
 Acknowledgement

First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude and sincere

respect to our supervisor (Rajan Thapa ) for his continuous
support to our work. His constant guidance helped us to complete
our work in proper time. Without his scientific vision,
understanding of the subject matter and tactfulness to deal with
student, the project would have never taken this present form.
I present profound thankfulness to ( Puran Bahadur Joshi ),
principal of (Hetauda School Of Management) college. I would
like to acknowledge all the staffs of administration and library of
our college for their help and cooperation.

vi
 ABSTRACT
Pesticides are used in managing pests and their use will continue in future because
of food security and vector control. Most pesticides are potentially toxic to
human beings resulting in severe health consequences. There is also evidence
that parental exposure, as well as, exposure in early life or adolescence could
increase the longer-term risks. Pesticide exposures have been linked to many
human diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
asthma, bronchitis, infertility, birth defects, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, autism, diabetes, and obesity, respiratory diseases, organ diseases and
system failures. People who are exposed to pesticides are at a greater risk to
develop various cancers including non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), leukemia,
brain tumors, and cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, stomach, colorectal,
liver, and the urinary bladder. The cell culture is an excellent experimental model
reflecting human exposure to pesticides at a molecular level which is necessary
to understand the hazards. Pesticide users should be aware of their risks and
proper handling, as well as must use personal protective equipment which is
effective in reducing damage to human health. Carcinogenic pesticides must be
eliminated and sustainable and new approaches in pest management should be
encouraged.
vii
 Table of Contents
Coverage or Title Page .................................................................................i
Approval Sheet .............................................................................................ii
Letter of recommendation .........................................................................iii
Declaration ...................................................................................................iv-v
Acknowledgement ......................................................................................vi
Abstract .........................................................................................................vii
Table of Contents ........................................................................................viii
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………ix
1.0 Adverse effects of pesticides on human health…………………………………x-xi
1.1 Applications of pesticides………………………………………………………………….xii-xiii
Conclusion ....................................................................................................xiv-xv
References .....................................................................................................xvi
Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………………….xvii
viii
 Introduction
A pesticide is any substance which is used to prevent, destroy or repel any pest
from causing any damage. The term pest represents any living organism that
may cause harm to human in respect to food competition, destruction of
property and spread of disease. Pests include insects, rodents, microbes, fungi
and weeds (unwanted plants), etc. of agricultural, medical and veterinary
importance, and therefore, a pesticide can be an insecticide, an insect and
plant growth regulator, a fungicide, an herbicide, a molluscicide, and an
algaecide, etc. based on the target pest organism.

The major site of action for most pesticides are the nervous and
endocrine systems and, therefore, are also potentially toxic to human with
serious direct or indirect adverse health effects. Human beings are exposed to
pesticides directly or indirectly. Direct exposure occurs during pesticide
application process in agriculture, public health and livestock, and fumigation
while indirect exposure involves ingestion of contaminated food and water,
and inhalation of pesticides droplets from the drift. Children are more
susceptible to pesticides than adults due to their physical makeup, behavior
and physiology, and exposure to very low levels at early developmental stages
can cause adverse health effects.
 Adverse effects of pesticides on Human Health
Pesticides can have several adverse effects on human health,
particularly if they are used improperly or in large quantities. Some
potential effects include:
• Acute Poisoning: Pesticides can cause acute poisoning if they are ingested, inhaled, or
come into contact with the skin or eyes. Symptoms can range from mild skin irritation to
severe poisoning, depending on the type and amount of pesticide exposure.
• Chronic Health Effects: Long-term exposure to low levels of pesticides can lead to
chronic health effects, including cancer, reproductive problems, neurological disorders,
and respiratory issues. Certain pesticides have been linked to specific health conditions,
such as organophosphates and nerve damage.
• Respiratory Issues: Pesticides can irritate the respiratory system and lead to symptoms
such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Prolonged exposure to certain
pesticides can also increase the risk of developing asthma or exacerbate existing
respiratory conditions.
• Skin and Eye Irritation: Direct contact with pesticides can cause skin and eye irritation,
including redness, itching, and burning. Pesticides can also be absorbed through the skin
and enter the bloodstream, leading to systemic effects.
x
• Endocrine Disruption: Some pesticides have been found to disrupt the
endocrine system, which regulates hormone production and function.
This can lead to reproductive issues, developmental delays, and other
health problems.
• Risk to Children: Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of
pesticides due to their developing bodies and higher levels of exposure
relative to their body weight. Pesticide exposure in children has been
linked to developmental delays, behavioral problems, and other health
issues.
• Environmental Impact: Pesticides can also have indirect effects on
human health by contaminating air, water, and soil. This can lead to
exposure through consumption of contaminated food and water, as
well as through inhalation of airborne pesticides.

xi
 Applications of Pesticides
Pesticides are used for a variety of purposes to control pests and
protect crops, livestock, and public health. Some common
applications of pesticides include:
• Agriculture: Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to protect crops from
pests such as insects, weeds, and diseases. They help to increase crop yields
and ensure food security by reducing losses due to pest damage.
• Public Health: Pesticides are used to control disease-carrying insects such as
mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. This helps to prevent the spread of diseases such
as malaria, dengue fever, and Lyme disease.
• Livestock Protection: Pesticides are used to control pests that affect livestock,
such as ticks, mites, and flies. They help to improve animal health and welfare
and increase the productivity of livestock operations.
• Forestry: Pesticides are used in forestry to control pests that damage trees,
such as insects and fungi. They help to maintain the health and vitality of
forests and protect them from pests and diseases.
xii
• Structural Pest Control: Pesticides are used to control pests in and around buildings,
such as cockroaches, ants, and termites. They help to protect structures from
damage and ensure the safety and comfort of occupants.

• Aquatic Weed Control: Pesticides are used to control weeds in bodies of water, such
as lakes, ponds, and rivers. They help to prevent the spread of invasive weeds and
maintain the ecological balance of aquatic ecosystems.

• Storage Pest Control: Pesticides are used to protect stored grains, seeds, and other
commodities from pests such as insects and rodents. They help to prevent losses due
to pest damage and ensure the quality of stored products.
While pesticides can be effective in controlling pests and protecting crops and public
health, it is important to use them responsibly and according to label instructions to
minimize the risk of adverse effects on human health and the environment.
Integrated pest management (IPM) practices, which combine the use of pesticides
with other pest control methods, can help to reduce reliance on pesticides and
minimize their impact.
xiii
 Literature of Review
Pesticide exposures have been linked to the elevated incidence of
human diseases such as cancers, Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, asthma, bronchitis, infertility, birth defects, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, diabetes, and obesity, respiratory
diseases, organ diseases and system failures. People who are exposed to
pesticides are at a greater risk to develop various cancers including non-
Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), leukemia, brain tumors, and cancers of the
breast, prostate, lung, stomach, colorectal, liver, and the urinary
bladder.
Pesticides cause genetic and epigenetic changes by involving
various processes at cellular levels. Pesticides may be involved in
endocrine disruption and induction of inflammatory signals which result
in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causing oxidative stress.
ROS disrupt the cellular functions of mitochondria and endoplasmic
reticulum.
xiv
 Conclusion
Pesticides are used in managing pests of agricultural and public health
importance, and their use will continue in future because of food
security and vector control. Additionally, pesticides are used at home
in fumigation for structural pests and to mitigate household pest using
aerosols or sprays. It is difficult to eliminate pesticides in the near
future, but they should be used with care and caution. Most pesticides
are potentially toxic to human beings resulting in severe health
consequences including cancers.
Epidemiological evidence suggests that there is an increased
incidence of different diseases including leukemia, lymphoma, and
several other types of cancers in farmers, and those who are
associated with application of pesticides. There is also evidence that
parental exposure, as well as, exposure in early life or adolescence
could increase the longer-term risks.
xv
The workplace safety standards and proper pesticide management and storage
must be implemented to reduce the risks posed to human health. Pesticide users
should be aware of their risks and proper handling, as well as must use personal
protective equipment which are effective in reducing damage to human health. To
ensure healthy childhood growth, efforts should be made to develop
comprehensive pesticides risk mitigation strategies and interventions to reduce
children’s exposure.
It is critical to achieve sustainable development in agricultural systems. Newer
approaches in pest management have been developed which should be
encouraged. For example, RNA interference- (RNAi-) based pesticides are emerging
as a promising new biorational control strategy [61] and steam treatment at
temperature of 150.56°C can kill 93.99% of nematode 97.49% of bacteria [62].
Future research need in the context of minimizing the impact on human health
due to exposure to pesticides include an urgent need to eliminate the use of
carcinogenic pesticides and to develop environmentally sound integrated pest
management (IPM) strategies that use the minimum amount of pesticides. Such
IPM strategies should aim at reducing the pesticides residues on food products
and pesticides-free water and air.
xvi
 References
University of Kentucky. PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS;
Kentucky Pesticide Safety Education Program
[Internet]. 2020.
www.intechopen.com
Chatgpt

xvii
Appendices