We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Dangers of Pesticide Exposure?

By L.R. Ferguson
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,110
Share

Pesticide exposure can result in several dangers that can damage a person’s health. Depending on the chemical and the amount of the pesticide to which a person is exposed, the body’s reaction and resulting health problems will vary. When exposed to pesticides, humans and animals can experience a number of health problems, such as nerve damage, cancer, birth defects and even death.

Symptoms usually appear quickly once a person has suffered pesticide exposure. Some of the warning signs of exposure include headache, burning of the skin or eyes, vomiting, muscle weakness and fatigue. If a person is repeatedly exposed to pesticides, even in small doses, then the risk for developing a serious illness, such as cancer, is increased. Though the damaging effects of pesticide exposure can be lessened — and even prevented — by receiving immediate and proper medical attention, in cases of chronic exposure to chemicals, the likelihood of developing lifelong health complications is much greater.

Pesticides are primarily used to eliminate and prevent pests of all kinds from infiltrating or damaging crops. There are more than 1,000 chemicals that can be considered pesticides. Two common types are insecticides, which are used to prevent insects from damaging crops, and fungicides, which are employed to control the spreading of fungus. Variations of pesticide chemicals are also used to kill rodents, bedbugs and mites, all of which commonly infest households. Store-bought insect sprays might not be effective enough to kill mass invasions of these pests, so professionals usually use special pesticides to successfully eliminate them.

Though pesticides are useful in that they prevent produce from being damaged or insects from infesting buildings, the dangers associated with them are serious. Pesticide exposure can result in the poisoning of humans and animals that unknowingly come into contact with them. The likelihood of health problems occurring because of pesticide exposure depends greatly on not only the type of pesticide to which a person comes into contact but also the amount to which they were exposed.

Pesticide exposure can occur through three main modes of contact: dermal contact, oral contamination and inhalation. Exposure to the dermis occurs when a pesticide comes into contact with the skin or eyes. This can happen to people who use pesticides incorrectly or without using proper protective clothing and eyewear.

Oral pesticide exposure happens when a person eats produce that has pesticide residue on it. Inhalation of a pesticide occurs when a person breathes in pesticides when using them. This type of pesticide exposure commonly happens to workers, such as farmers or those who work in environments that manufacture pesticides.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-dangers-of-pesticide-exposure.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.