Pesticides are man-made substances used to kill pests or other unwanted living things. All pesticides are poisonous. The most used pesticides in Canada are:
- Herbicides – to kill plants and weeds
- Insecticides – to kill insects
- Fungicides – to kill fungi, mushrooms, yeasts, and moulds
- Rodenticides – to kill rodents
Pesticides come in liquid, gas, and solid forms and can be used in a variety of ways (sprayed, sprinkled, etc.)
How Do Pesticides Poison?
Pesticides enter our bodies in three ways; they can be swallowed, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. The mos common means of exposure is through the skin and eyes.
Pesticides and Children
Children are more at risk from pesticides than any other age group. They spend more time on the ground and put their fingers in their mouths. As a result, they are more exposed to pesticides and have a lower tolerance to the poisons due to their immature immune systems and organs. Children are typically more sensitive to pesticides because the enzymes and organs that rid their body of toxic chemicals are not fully developed. Children are also smaller and lighter so they receive a proportionately larger dose per exposure than adults.
According to the Canadian Environmental Law Association, “Pesticides have been either associated with, or more often, are suspected as contributing to, impaired cognitive development in children, increased rates of cancer, brain tumours, asthma, and immune system problems.”
There are elevated levels of cancer in children who come from homes that use home and garden pesticides. The U.S. National Cancer Institute showed that children from homes that use pesticides have a six times greater chance of getting leukemia.
The symptoms of pesticide poisoning in children can include but are not limited to:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- nausea
- rashes
- fever
- muscle twitching
- thirst
- headache
- fatigue
- eye and/or throat irritation
- shortness of breath
- mood swings
Symptoms increase in severity as the magnitude of poisoning increases.
Pregnant women should avoid any exposure to pesticides; fetuses are not immune from their effects.
Pesticides and Adults
Pesticides can cause serious health problems in adults. The symptoms of pesticide poisoning are similar to the ones in children.
Pesticides have been linked to breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. A study by the Stanford University’s School of Medicine indicates Parkinson’s disease is linked to home pesticide use. Many other health effects have been linked to pesticide use but definitive studies are almost non-existent in Canada.
Toronto’s former Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Sheela Basrur, states, “The use of lawn care pesticides is a public health issue of growing concern. When risks to human health are unnecessary or uncertain, the wisest course of action is to substitute alternatives rather than incurring risks that may prove unacceptable in the long run.”
What to do About Pesticide Poisoning
If you suspect pesticides have poisoned someone, immediately call your closest Poison Control Centre for information. In serious or life-threatening instances, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital.
In the event of a pesticide accident or allergic reaction, immediately remove all clothing and clean your body with hot, soapy water. Rinse and repeat, being sure to get underneath fingernails, toenails, and all areas of the body that were in contact with the pesticide. Immediately see a doctor, taking the pesticide container with you.
Pesticides and Pets
The Green Party of Ontario reports, “Evidence indicates that even the family dog is a victim of pesticides. Dogs from homes with lawns that have been sprayed with pesticides have a higher than average rate of the canine equivalent of lymphoma. Cancer is now the number one cause of death in dogs.”
According to Dr. Kathleen Cavanagh, a veterinarian in Ontario, pets are most commonly poisoned by pesticide packages left open within reach of the pet and by access to areas within the house or in the yard where pesticides have been applied.
What are the symptoms of pet pesticide poisoning? “This very much depends on which pesticide they contact, what route they contact it by, whether they are a large or small body weight, whether they are in good health otherwise, and how much of a dose they take in,” says Dr. Cavanagh. “Different classes of poison produce different spectra of signs. A whole range of symptoms such as bleeding disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, nervous signs, breathing problems, and death can occur.”
Dr. Cavanagh cautions, “For small animals, VERY small doses can lead to illness and death, so be extremely careful and watchful. Pets should not be allowed on freshly sprayed lawns for the same reasons humans are advised to stay off for a product-specific interval.”
Pesticide Facts
- According to UFCW Canada, 50 million kilograms of pesticide products are used in Canada every year.
- The World Health Organization estimates that 220,000 people die every year from pesticide poisoning and three million people are poisoned.
- Over 30 per cent of Canadians with yards use pesticides in their home gardens.
- Over 168 cities in Canada have full or partial bans on cosmetic lawn pesticides.
- There are approximately 6,000 pesticide products approved for use in Canada.
Everyday Items That May Contain Pesticides
- pressure-treated lumber
- flea collars
- lawn fertilizers
- insect sprays and repellents
- ant traps and bug bombs
- swimming pool and spa chemicals
- wood preservatives and/or wood stains
- laundry detergents
- window cleaners
- household paints
- anti-bacterial household sprays
- head lice treatments
Additional Sources:
T. Howard Mains, Co-President of TACTIX Government Consulting Inc.
Ontario Pesticide Education Program
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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