The Dangers of Pesticides for Agricultural Workers
For many years, the United States agricultural industry has been using pesticides to protect crops and control insects. Pesticides provide many benefits. However, they also present dangers to people who work with them. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are between 10,000 -20,000 occupational pesticide poisonings annually.
What are Pesticides?
A pesticide is a substance that is used to prevent or destroy pests such as insects, rodents or fungi. Some pesticides are made of chemicals and others are made of biologically based ingredients. The EPA has found that biologically based pesticides are often safer than chemical pesticides.
Which Pesticides Cause Injuries?
In 1998 – 1999 there were 1,009 reported cases of occupational illnesses related to pesticides. Of those, just under one half were related to insecticides.
Figure 2-159. Distribution and number of pesticide-related illnesses by pesticide functional class, 1998-1999. Insecticides were responsible for 49% (494 cases) of the 1,009 reported occupational illnesses related to pesticides.
(Sources: NIOSH [2002d]; Calvert [2002].)
Accordingly, it makes sense that the greatest number of pesticide-related illnesses were seen in the agriculture industry.
Figure 2-158. Distribution and number of pesticide-related illnesses by industry, 1998-1999. Employer or industry data were available for 911 of the 1,009 pesticide-related illness cases during 1998-99. Most of these cases (51.5% or 469 cases) were from the agricultural sector. Services accounted for 19.4% (177 cases) and transportation, communication, and public utilities accounted for 9.3% (85) cases.
(Sources: NIOSH [2002d]; Calvert [2002].)
When you look at specific occupations, it is easy to tell that farm workers have the highest number of pesticide related illnesses. In fact, more than two thirds of those who become sick from pesticides in 1998-1999 were farm workers.
Figure 2-157. Distribution and number of pesticide-related illnesses among agricultural workers by occupation, 1998-1999. Farm workers reported by far the most pesticide-related illnesses (71.8% or 336 cases) during 1998-1999. Other occupations with notable pesticide-related illnesses included graders and sorters (7.5% or 35 cases) and nursery workers (4.7% or 22 cases).
(Sources: NIOSH [2002d]; Calvert [2002].)
Since insecticides are so dangerous, it is important for the agricultural community to be able to know which insecticides are the most dangerous. The data collected during 1998-1999 found 6 pesticides to be responsible for over 90% of all pesticide related illnesses with organophosphorus being responsible for just over 47% of the illnesses alone.
Figure 2-160. Distribution and number of pesticide-related illnesses by insecticide chemical class, 1998-1999. The following insecticide classes were most commonly responsible for pesticide-related illnesses during 1998-1999: organophosphorus (47.2% or 233 cases), N-methyl carbamate (15.4% or 76 cases), pyrethroid (11.1% or 55 cases), and pyrethrin (9.3% or 46 cases).
(Sources: NIOSH [2002d]; Calvert [2002].)
What Injuries can Pesticides Cause?
Pesticides can cause different injuries depending on the chemicals used in the pesticide, the concentration of those chemicals and how much was ingested by the worker. Some possible pesticide injuries include poisoning, skin problems, respiratory problems and other diseases.
How Can You Protect Yourself From Pesticides Used on the Job?
Employees whose working conditions often include the use of pesticides should be taught how to handle pesticides safely. They should also be given personal protective equipment that fits well and is properly cleaned. Decontamination facilities should be available for workers and workers should be taught the warning signs of pesticide related illnesses.
Until safe pesticides are developed and made affordable for occupational use, workers will continue to be exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. It is, therefore, important, that they take all necessary steps to minimize their chances of getting sick.
