Symptoms of pesticide poisoning - Plant Protection Measures, Crop Production | Crop Production Notes- Agricultural Engineering PDF Download

You should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of poisoning. It is important to remove the person from the source of exposure quickly. Remove contaminated clothing and wash off any chemical which has soaked through. You may save a life.

Goals for This Module

• Be able to determine whether or not a person has been poisoned by a pesticide.
• Learn to recognize kinds of poisoning and their symptoms.
• Become familiar with chemical families and their toxicity.

Pesticide Poisoning or Not?

The symptoms of pesticide poisoning are similar to those of other types of poisoning and of other diseases. Heat exhaustion, food poisoning, asthma, and other illnesses are sometimes confused with pesticide poisoning. Just because a person becomes ill after using or being around pesticides is not proof that he is poisoned.

The symptoms of poisoning described here may occur in a person who has been suddenly exposed to large quantities of a toxic material. They may also occur in a person who has been continuously exposed to smaller quantities of toxic material over longer periods of time. If the symptoms appear, call your doctor and tell him what pesticide was involved.

Kinds of Poisoning

Acute poisoning is the severe poisoning which occurs after exposure to a single dose of pesticide. The appearance of symptoms may be sudden and dramatic or they may be delayed.

Chronic poisoning is the poisoning which occurs as a result of repeated, small, non-lethal doses over a long period of time. Many symptoms may appear, such as nervousness, slowed reflexes, irritability, or a general decline in health. Some test animals are unable to reproduce normally after repeated exposure to pesticides.

Medical Doctors Should Be Warned Ahead of Time

Many medical doctors may not be well informed as to the symptoms and treatment of pesticide poisoning. This is due to the few cases which they treat. Pesticide poisoning symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses and poisonings. You, the pesticide applicator, should tell your doctor which chemicals you use. Then he will know the symptoms and treatment, and can have the antidotes on hand.

Unfortunately, all pesticide poisoning symptoms are not the same. Each chemical family (i.e., organophosphates, carbamates, chlorinated hydrocarbons) can attack the human body in a different way. However, you should be aware of the general symptoms of pesticide poisoning.

General Symptoms

Mild Poisoning or Early Symptoms of Acute Poisoning headache, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, restlessness, nervousness, perspiration, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, thirst, moodiness, soreness in joints, skin irritation, eye irritation, irritation of the nose and throat.

Moderate Poisoning or Early Symptoms of Acute Poisoning nausea, diarrhea, excessive saliva, stomach cramps, excessive perspiration, trembling, no muscle coordination, muscle twitches, extreme weakness, mental confusion, blurred vision, difficulty in breathing, cough, rapid pulse, flushed or yellow skin, weeping.

Severe or Acute Poisoning fever, intense thirst, increased rate of breathing, vomiting, uncontrollable muscle twitches, pinpoint pupils, convulsions, inability to breathe, unconsciousness.

Chemical Families

Pesticides which are chemically similar to one another are often grouped together into "families." Each pesticide in a family attacks a pest in a similar way. Treatment and antidotes for poisoning are also the same within each family. It is important that the doctor know which chemical family is involved. The following chart identifies the symptoms of pesticide poisoning in the major chemical families.

If you are in doubt whether or not poisoning has occurred, let your doctor decide!

Effects of Pesticide Chemicals on the Human Body

C = Common name
T = Trade name

Table modified based on similar table in "Applying Pesticides Correctly", USDA, USEPA, written by Sally McDonald.