Pesticide applicators acute poisoning

As of 1999,. studies of the effects of pesticide exposure on children s health were limited to those of birth defects, childhood cancer, and acute poisoning following ingestion. Some case-control studies have associated parental exposure to pesticides or pesticide use in the home with childhood brain tumors, leukemia and lymphomas, testicular cancers, and other cancers, Other studies have reported that parental exposure to pesticides or application of pesticides in the home are associated with cenain birth defects, including neural tube and other defects (Eskenazi et at., 1999). Evaluation.s iif OP and CM exposures, levels of expasures, and health impacts to children are needed. 

Pharmacologically, carbofuran inhibits cholinesterase, resulting in stimulation of the central, parasympathetic, and somatic motor systems. Sensitive biochemical tests have been developed to measure cholinesterase inhibition in avian and mammalian brain and plasma samples and are useful in the forensic assessment of carbamate exposure in human and wildlife pesticide incidents. Acute toxic clinical effects resulting from carbofuran exposure in animals and humans appear to be completely reversible and have been successfully treated with atropine sulfate. However, treatment should occur as soon as possible after exposure because acute carbofuran toxicosis can be fatal younger age groups of various species are more susceptible than adults. Carbofuran labels indicate that application is forbidden to streams, lakes, or ponds. In addition, manufacturers have stated that carbofuran is poisonous if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin users are cautioned... 

An acute effect normdly occuis shortly after contact with a single dose or exposure to a poison, in this case a pesticide. The magnitude of the effect depends on the innate toxicity of the substance, duration of exposure, and the method of application or exposure to a particular organism. Thus, a smaller dose of arsenious oxide than sodium chloride (table salt) will produce toxic symptoms in most animal species, and a drop of sulfuric acid is less dangerous on the skin than it is in the eye. Acute toxidty very often results from the disruption of an identifiable biochemical or physiological system and as a consequence, acute toxic respoises are more readily quantifiable. 

Munk ZM, Nantel A. Acute lindane poisoning with development of muscle necrosis. Can Med Assoc J 1977 117 1050-1052. Nash RG, Kearney PC, Maitlen JC, Sell CR, Fertig SN. Agricultural applicators exposure to 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. In Pesticide residues and exposure. Plimmer JR, editor. ACS symposium series 182, 1982, Chap 10 119-132. 

There are cases of acute human poisoning by pesticides in the Ukraine. In the last 20-25 years this occurred more often in workers not involved directly in the application of pesticides, but amongst those workers who cultivate agricultural crops on fields treated previously with pesticides. This problem was the subject of a special investigation [8]. 

The cardiovascular effects of muscarinic receptor antagonists are of limited clinical application. Atropine may be considered in the initial treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction in whom excessive vagal tone causes sinus or nodal bradycardia. Dosing must be judicious doses that are too low can cause a paradoxical bradycardia excessive doses will cause tachycardia that may extend the infarct by increasing demand. Atropine occasiormlly is useful in reducing the severe bradycardia and syncope associated with a hyperactive carotid sinus reflex. Atropine will protect the SA and AV nodes from the effects of excessive ACh in instances of poisoning with anticholinesterase pesticides. 

Boric acid and sodium borate have been used for many years in a variety of products as antiseptics and fungistatic agents in baby talcum powder. Boric acid powder (99%) is still used as a pesticide against ants and cockroaches. In the past, repeated and indiscriminate application of boric acid to broken or abraded skin resulted in many cases of severe poisoning. Epidemics have also occurred after boric acid was mistakenly added to infant formula or used in food preparation. Although chronic toxicity seldom occurs now, acute ingestion by children at home is common. 

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