Respiratory Effects of Pesticide Exposure

Pesticide Health Effects Medical Education Database (PHEMED)

Acute Symptoms

• Upper respiratory irritation – Rhinitis – Scratchy throat – Cough

• Sneezing• Runny nose• Pulmonary edema• Pulmonary consolidation • Dyspnea

Upper Respiratory Irritation

• Naphthalene • Paraquat • Chloropicrin • Acrolein • Dichloropropene • Ethylene dibromide

• Sulfur dioxide• Sulfuryl fluoride • Acrylonitrile • Formaldehyde • Cadmium dusts • ANTU

Sneezing & Runny Nose

• Sneezing - Sabadilla

• Runny nose – Pyrethrins – Inorganic arsenicals – Organophosphates insecticides – Carbamate insecticides

Pulmonary Edema

• Methyl bromide• Phosphine • Phosphorus • Phosphine • Ethylene oxide • Ethylene dibromide • Acrolein

• Pyrethiods • Sulfur dioxide • Cationic detergents • Creosote • Methylisothiocyanate • Cadmium

Many chemicals come with a hydrocarbon vehicle, Many chemicals come with a hydrocarbon vehicle, well known to cause pulmonary edemawell known to cause pulmonary edema

Pulmonary Consolidation

• Paraquat - fibrosis

• Cadmium dusts

• Methyl bromide

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Dyspnea

• Nicotine • Paraquat • ANTU • Cadmium dusts• Cyanamide

• Sulfuryl fluoride• Pentachlorophenol • Methyl bromide • Sulfur dioxide • Chloropicrin

Other Respiratory Problems

• Only a few pesticides are ‘sensitizers’ causing allergic reactions along with OTHER triggers– dusts, pollens, animals, diesel, molds, grains, hay, disinfectants

• Organophosphates and carbamates inhibit cholinesterase resulting in – Constriction of the bronchial tubes– Increased secretions– Difficulty in breathing

Chronic Respiratory Problems

• Insecticide related wheezing with*: – parathion (NR) – Chlorpyriphos (Lorsban/Dursban)– malathion (MAXIDE)

• Herbicide related wheezing with*: – paraquat– Atrazine (Shotgun…95 labels)– Alachlor (Lasso)– chlorimuron ethyl (NR) – EPTC (EPTAM, ERADICANE)

*Source: Hoppin JA et al (2006). Pesticides and Adult Respiratory Outcomes in the Agricultural Health Study. Ann. New York Academy of Sciences. 1076:343-354.

Chronic Bronchitis in Farm Women and Pesticides

Insecticides• Dichlorvos • DDT

Herbicides• Cyanazine

• Paraquat

Fumigant• methyl bromide

Source: Valcin M, et al. Chronic bronchitis among nonsmoking farm women in the agricultural health study. J Occup Environ Med. 2007 May;49(5):574-83.

Controlling for:

• Smoking

• 2nd hand smoke

• Asthma

• Usual suspects: dust, solvents, manure

Controlling for:

• Smoking

• 2nd hand smoke

• Asthma

• Usual suspects: dust, solvents, manure