Categories: Gastroenterology

Pesticide Poisoning – How serious is it?

Pesticides are a generic term for a class of products that are used to kill animal or plant matter which affect farm produce. Pesticides have been used since the Vedic times in India and the Mesopotamian civilization, to increase both quality and quantity of produce. However, in the last 50 years or more, pesticides have got a lot of attention thanks to commercialization of farming and global supply chains. There are myths and concerns around the use of pesticides and the harm they pose to human health.

Types of Insecticides

Insecticides: As the name implies, they destroy insects and their eggs.
Herbicides: Also known as weedicide, they kill unwanted plants at a farm
Rodenticides: They kill rodents such as rats, bandicoots, etc which bring disease and destruction
Fungicides: Fungal growth can cause rotting of plant parts and affect the produce. Fungicides destroy fungi.

Organic vs. Synthetic pesticides

Many plants produce harmful chemicals to protect themselves against animals in the wild. Scientists extract these chemicals, enhance them in a laboratory and market them as a product. These are called organic or plant-based pesticides.

In contrast, synthetic pesticides are a concoction of chemicals prepared in a factory, and help achieve the same or better objective as organic pesticides. These are broadly classified into the following categories:

Organophosphates: These harm the central nervous system and have long-term effects.
Carbamates: Similar to organophosphates but less deadly and with short-term effects
Pyrethroids: Also affect the central nervous system.
Organochlorines: Example: DDT. These too have a harmful effect on the environment.
Neonicotinoids: These are sprayed on small trees and leaves of large trees
Glyphosate: Routinely used in farms with genetically modified crops (GM crops).

Both organic and synthetic pesticides can affect the health of humans and pets, in addition to damaging the environment.

Also Read: Food Poisoning – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

How do we end up consuming pesticide?

Pesticides end up in the human body in different ways.

Residue of pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables gets ingested when these are not washed.
The pesticides leach into the soil, the plants absorb them, traces of it enter the fruit/vegetable/food-grain and from there into the human body
The pesticides leach into the groundwater from where they make it to the drinking water we consume
Farm workers and people living near farms may inhale tiny droplets of pesticides from the air

Which foods are more risky?

A study was conducted in the US for this; similar results will apply to India as well.

Farm produce with the most pesticide content are potatoes, spinach, kale, celery, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, peaches, pears, apples, nectarines and grapes.
Farm produce with the least pesticide content are: sweet-corn, eggplant, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, frozen peas, mushrooms, asparagus, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, kiwi, pineapple, papaya and avocado.

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning

When pesticide is consumed by people with an intention to take their lives, it can show various symptoms depending on how much is consumed. However, for the purpose of this article, we are only looking at poisoning that happens when contaminated water or food are consumed.

The good news is that the quantity of pesticide that enters our body this way is not large enough to show any serious symptoms or long-term consequences. It’s only when fruits and vegetables are consumed directly without washing or cooking that there may be mild symptoms. These include nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, insomnia and irritation or allergy in the eyes, nose, throat or skin. If you are facing any of these symptoms, visit the emergency department of your local hospital. A gastroenterologist there will analyze the cause and prescribe relevant treatment.

However, pesticide handlers, farm workers and people who live very close to farms where pesticides are used, are at risk. Depending on the quantity of pesticide inhaled by them, they may experience a range of symptoms which includes constriction of the throat, blurred vision, vomiting, confusion and unsteady pulse.

Prevention

Pesticides are here to stay, so one can take certain precautions to minimize pesticide ingestion into the body.

As far as possible, buy organic food products. These are produced in farms where pesticides and fertilizers are not used. Other means are used to tackle the pest problem. However, these are more expensive than food produced using pesticides.
After purchasing fruits and vegetables, they should be washed thoroughly before storing in the refrigerator. While plain water is good enough, a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water is a good medium to soak in, before washing.
Vegetables that are eaten raw must be peeled before cutting and eating. If you would like to eat them with the skin on, wash thoroughly as explained above.
Be wary of salads in restaurants or hotels. These are not washed thoroughly and generally peeled and cut. In addition to pesticide poisoning, this puts you at the risk of ingesting worm eggs or larvae, and soil.
If you are buying farm produce directly at a farm (or farm-side stalls), wash them at the earliest. Else, pesticide residues on them can irritate your skin and throat.

Conclusion

Pesticides bring several advantages and are inevitable in modern-day farming that helps feed thousands of people. With a few simple precautions, you can minimize the risk of pesticide poisoning to a large extent.

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