Health Effects of Pesticides

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Acute and chronic toxicity. 3. Toxicity profile. 4. Known and probable adverse health impacts. 5. Exposure assessment studies. 6. Human studies in developing countries. 7. Current laws and legislation in India. 8. Gap areas. Index.

The need to protect scarce and essential resources from other living things is truly prehistoric, but it is only in the last century that toxic chemicals have come into widespread use. Although pesticides are useful in agricultural sector and in control of vector-borne diseases, they may cause illness and death in humans. People most susceptible to direct contact with pesticides are subjects constantly exposed to pesticides either in the agricultural sector or in the pesticide manufacturing sector. Today, it is almost impossible for anyone to avoid frequent exposure to several different pesticide residues because of their extensive use. No wonder there is concern about possible adverse effects on human health arising from continual, long-term and low-level pesticide exposure.

Health Effects of Pesticides covers various aspects of the use of pesticides, their behaviour, degradation, and impacts on the agararian environment. It focuses on pesticide poisoning incidents and farm practices in developing countries. The health impacts of pesticides, including neurological, respiratory, and dermal effects, are examined. Other repercussions caused as a result of pesticides, including reproductive abnormalities and cancer, are comprehensively discussed. Effects of pesticides on general health and agrarian health surveys have been touched upon.