Pesticides Effect

The purposes of using pesticides are to control weeds, fungi, and insects that threaten human health, kill disease-causing organisms, damage crops, and ultimately control pests that destroy structures important to the public. is to Their mode of operation is specified in several ways. Therefore, they can harm target-eliminating organisms, such as humans. Pesticide application is not precise. Therefore, it can cause unintended exposure in common areas. Their effects are very likely to affect the health of people, especially children and adolescents.Low levels of exposure are considered toxic and can have adverse health effects (Corsini, 2013). Pesticide exposure is highly likely to cause a range of neurological health troubles which are inclusive of loss of coordination, memory loss, reduced visual ability, behavior change, uncontrolled emotion, reduced motor skills, and reduced speed in the stimuli response. The symptoms are highly subtle such that they cannot be identified by a clinical officer. Other health effects attached to the pesticides are asthma, allergies, cancer, problems in the fetal and reproduction development, hormone disruption, hypersensitivity, and others.

The formulation of pesticides contains both inert and active ingredients. Inert one is an ingredient which is solvent, may not be tested, and is seldom activated on the product labels. The inert helps the active ingredient in being more efficient in their work. The active ingredient is what kills the pest; they are likely to be absorbed by the skin or inhaled. Because of the small size in children, they are likely to be more exposed to the pesticides due to their size and the ability to breathe, eat as well as drink more than the adults. They can be very vulnerable due to their organs and bodies which make them even at a risk of exposure while in the womb.

Organochlorines

The ingestion of the above mentioned pesticides in the acute level is likely to cause the hypersensitivity to the touch, sound or light, nausea, vomiting, confusion, loss of sensation around the mouth, nervousness, and tremors. In 1970, manufacturing company for the production of the insecticides called Kepone developed a variety of neurological symptoms with the prominent one being Kepone shakes. Later in the year, due to the health effects, Kepone was substituted with an organophosphate (Mwevura, 2002 ).

Organophosphates and Carbamates

The use of the above insecticide is likely to cause symptoms and signs of excess acetylcholine such as nausea, a decrease in the blood pressure, fatigue, pupil narrowing, and perspiration. The symptoms usually decline with time, and within days the exposed often operates normally. Some of the organophosphates are said to cause delayed neurological action which causes weaknesses in muscles, legs as well as the arm. During probation, people used to consume an alcoholic drink known as the Jamaican ginger that contains organophosphate. It led to more than 20,00 people been affected by the Ginger Jake paralysis. Late the US government conducted a research and came up with a law which ensured there was a delayed registration process for the reduction of the human toxicity.

Pyrethroids

Pyrethroids is the best alternative for the organophosphate. It causes the hyper excitation, incoordination, seizures, tremors, and aggressiveness. Acute exposure can cause allergies in the skin cancer, reproduction, and the implications in the endocrine system.

Herbicides

Herbicides are less toxic to humans in comparison to the insecticides, but they interfere with enzymes or the plant hormones which don’t have any counterpart with the animals. The chemical contaminants are the most active ingredients which affect human health. In the past, a case of the military personnel who were exposed to the agent orange was reported to have liver diseases, cancer, congenital disabilities, and other illnesses. They are said to cause adverse health effects such as cancer, development effect and the endocrine system effects. There are concerns also on the ability of herbicides in affecting the aquatic organisms and wildlife. For example, a persistent herbicide in the name of atrazine is said to affect frogs adversely. Their effect has led to the ban of its use in the European Union. The persistent herbicides are believed to contaminate the ground and surface water.

To reduce the effect of the pesticides on the human health and the economy, there is a need to take into action the following:

• The government should be at the forefront in reducing the effect by legislating laws that control toxicity;

• Identification of the least toxic pesticides from integrated pest management;

• The user should ensure that the one reads the instructions carefully before the use;

• Taking steps to minimize exposure.

Hence, with the necessary organizations coordination, it is possible to reduce the effect of the pesticide. Hence, each one should play their role efficiently (Banerjee, 2016).

References

Corsini, E., Sokooti, M., Galli, C. L., Moretto, A., & Colosio, C. (2013). Pesticide induced immunotoxicity in humans: a comprehensive review of the existing evidence. Toxicology, 307, 123-135.

Mwevura, H., Othman, O. C., & Mhehe, G. L. (2002). Organochlorine pesticide residues in sediments and biota from the coastal area of Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 45(1), 262-267.

Banerjee, B. D., Koner, B. C., & Ray, A.(2016). Immunotoxicity of pesticides: perspectives and trends. Indian journal of experimental biology, 34(8), 723-733.