PESTICIDES AND CHEMICAL INJURY
CANCER
Pesticides increase risk of cancer, including leukemia, Hodgkin’s, and other lymphoma1 and brain
cancer.2 Home pesticide use increases risk of many cancers in children.1 2
AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE
Pesticides have shown the ability to cause the formation of autoantibodies in experimental
3
animals. Lymphocyte abnormalities, including excessive activation, and increased
autoantibodies, have been reported in humans exposed to the fungicide pentachlorophenol, the
insecticide chlorpyrifos (Dursban, etc.), the fumigant formaldehyde, and the germicide
4 5 6 7 8
chlordane.
Increased autoimmune complexes are reported in rural workers exposed to organochlorines as well
9
as urban residents exposed to organophosphates. Farm and factory workers with pesticide
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exposure have also shown immune changes of increased autoimmunity.
Agricultural
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and pest control applicators exposed to organochlorines also shows increased autoimmunity.
OTHER IMMUNE CHANGES
Rural and factory workers with pesticide poisoning (symptoms of over-exposure) showed changes
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in T and B cells, and increased antibodies.
Impairment of immune function in the
form of increased chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonitis, and other respiratory infections have
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been reported with pesticide exposure.
We have also seen similar immune
changes in our patients who became ill after exposure to pyrethroid pesticides.
SENSITIZATION
Pesticides,30 31 32 fungicides30 31 and herbicides30 31 activate the NMDA receptor.30
lead to Parkinson’s.30 32 NMDA reactivation can also lead to sensitization.
32
This can
BRAIN DAMAGE
Toxic exposure, which leads to the formation of antibodies to the brain/nervous system leads to
changes in the neuromuscular function.33 Pesticide and herbicide 34 35 36 exposure increases risk of
Parkinson’s tremors35 and disease. 35 37 This is confirmed by Government scientists who have
concluded from a detailed review of medical literature that repeated exposure to herbicides and/or
insecticides lead to increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. 38
HORMONE EFFECTS
Pesticide exposure alters the metabolism of estrogen to forms (increased 16 to 2 hydroxyestrone
39
ratio) associated with higher cancer risk. Exposure during pregnancy can damage function of the
testes in baby boys, including failure of the testes to descend normally into the scrotum.40 This
greatly reduces sperm production. These pesticides are also excreted through the breast milk,40
causing increased body burdens in nursing infants.
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Pesticides and Chemical Injury
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HOW EXPOSURE OCCURS
Pesticides indoors persist longer because they degrade more slowly.41 Pesticide spray indoors
contaminates many surfaces.41 These surfaces act as residues of pesticide contamination,41and not
only evaporate but also contaminate food, hands and other body areas.41 Hand contamination can
lead to further food contamination.41 Skin contact with pesticides on sprayed surfaces can result in
high exposure levels42 because pesticides easily enter the body through the skin. 42 43 Biopersistent
pesticides such as organochlorines linger in the body many years, often decades. 40
PESTICIDES STAY IN THE BODY
Many pesticides stay in the body.44 Half or more of Americans tested showed body burdens of
these pesticides: permethrins, chlorpyrifos (Dursban), etc., parathion pesticides, lindane,
chlordane, 2-5 dichlorophenol (moth balls) and DDT. DEET (a mosquito repellant) was found in
10% of all tested people. This would mean a much higher percent in users.
EXPOSURE SYMPTOMS
Some, but not all, people who develop pesticide illness have symptoms during or shortly after first
or a subsequent exposure. Sometimes repeated exposure has happened before symptoms are
noticed. This can impair waiting for symptoms as a sole indicator of damage.
Indoor use of pesticides creates sufficient air levels, whether done by fogging, broadcast aerosol or
spray, to cause health complaints in some exposed individuals.45 Sixty-six percent of healthy
college students reported moderate to severe symptoms when exposed to the odor of pesticides,
paints or other common petrochemicals. Of the severely affected students, 98% had significant
symptoms with pesticide exposure (as commonly encountered, not occupational use), and such
46
exposure correlated well with increase in most symptoms
INCREASED DAMAGE WITH MULTIPLE PESTICIDES
Chemical mixtures of more than one pesticide even at modest dose produced dramatic increase in
organ damage (compared to single pesticide), with damage to thymus, immune system, increased
susceptibility to infection, and endocrine changes.47
“INERT INGREDIENTS”
Pesticides often contain extra ingredients they call “inert”. This is NOT an honest description of
these substances, because they can:

make the pesticide more toxic to the brain, genes (DNA), and hormones,48

help pesticide penetrate skin and clothes easier,48 so more enters the body,

keep the pesticide toxic longer, breaking down more slowly,48

make the pesticide more toxic to other species and environment.48
In addition:

companies often do not tell you what the inert ingredients are or how much is there,

manufacturers are sellers and often do not study scientifically the effect of the complete
mixture,48
Pesticides and Chemical Injury
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a mixture of chemicals has harmful effects that are worse than expected from the added effects
of the individual ingredients.
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