Pesticides Cause Many Health Problems

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HealthWiki > A Community Guide to Environmental Health > Chapter 14: Pesticides Are Poison > Pesticides Cause Many Health Problems

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

A person exposed to pesticides may have more than one sign of illness. Some signs show up at the time the person is exposed. Other signs do not show up until hours, days, or even years later. (For more on health effects of toxic chemicals, see Chapter 16.)

Many people are exposed to pesticides but may not know it. Laundry workers, garbage and recycling workers, and others who have direct contact with pesticides may be in just as much danger of poisoning as farm workers. They should be aware that there are pesticides in their environment, and they should follow the same precautions as farm workers.

Signs of pesticide poisoning

Pin-point pupils

Nose and mouth: runny nose, drooling

Chest and lungs:
pain, breathing problems, coughing

Stomach:
pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting

Other general signs of and tingling in fingers pesticide poisoning are:
Confusion, weakness, trouble walking, trouble concentrating, muscle twitching, restlessness and anxiety, bad dreams and trouble sleeping

Head and eyes:
headaches, vision problems, small pupils in the eyes, tears

Legs and arms:
muscle cramps or pains, twitching

Hands:
damage to fingernails, numbness and tingling in fingers

Skin:
itching, rashes, bumps, redness, blisters, burning, sweating too much

If you have any of these problems while working with pesticides, leave the worksite immediately. Do not wait until you feel worse. Get away from the pesticides and go to a hospital or clinic right away!

Signs of severe poisoning:

Severe pesticide poisoning can kill.

Unconsciousness, loss of control over bladder and bowels, blue lips and fingernails, shaking

This page was updated:05 Jan 2024