What are the health effects of pesticide exposure?
The health effects from pesticide exposure will depend on the type of pesticide involved and the level of exposure.The health effects of each major class of pesticide considered to be important in children’s environmental health will be discussed in terms of two types of exposure: acute, high-level exposure and chronic, low-level exposure. 1. Organophosphates and Carbamates: These two classes of pesticides share a similar way of causing health problems. However, the organophosphates are generally much more toxic than the carbamates. Acute, high level exposure: Immediate effects — Such exposure may produce the following findings in minutes to hours: 1 • heart rate changes (increased or decreased) • pinpoint pupils • increased tear formation in the eyes • nausea/vomiting • diarrhea • muscle cramps • difficulty breathing • emotional instability • confusion • slurred speech • seizures • coma • possibly death Delayed effects — Some studies have shown that repeated high-level exposures can
