Health Effects of Pesticides on the Nervous System

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Health Effects of Pesticides on the Nervous
System
Helen Murphy FNP, MHS Pacific Northwest
Agricultural Safety and Health Center
(PNASH) School of Public Health University of
Washington
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Central and Peripheral Nervous System Pesticide
Induced Signs and Symptoms

• Muscle twitching
• Tetany, carpopedal spasms
• Tremor
• Incoordination/ataxia
• Paresis, muscle weakness
• Hypotensive shock
• Hypertension

• Paresthesias
• Headache
• Behavioral-mood disturbances
• Depression/stupor/ coma/respiratory failure
• Seizures

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Paresthesias
Extremities
Facial - transitory

• Pyrethroids- cyno group (I) facial
• Organophosphates (I)
• Organochlorines (I)
• Phosphides (R)
• Thiobendazole (Asc)
• Nicotine (late)

• Inorganic arsenicals (I)
• Organic mercury (F)
• Sodium fluoroacetate (R)
• Carbon disulfide (Fum)
• Thallium painful (R)

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Headachea common health outcome of pesticide
exposure

• OP-Carbamates (I)
• Nicotine (I)
• Metallic compounds (F) mercury, cadmium, copper,
  organotin
• Thallium (R)
• Fluoride (I)
• Borates (I)

• Naphthalene (moth balls)
• Phosphine (Fum)
• Halocarbon fumigants
• Creosote (wood preservative)
• Diquat (H)
• Cholecalciferol (R)
• Cyanamid (Fum)

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Behavioral-mood Disturbancesconfusion,
excitement, mania, disorientation, emotional
liability

• Organic mercury (F)
• Inorganic arsenicals (F)
• Organotin cmpds (F)
• Thallium (R)
• Nicotine (I)
• Sodium fluoroacetate (R)

• Diquat (H)
• Cyanide (Fum)
• Nitrophenols (H)
• Aminopyridine (bird bait)
• Methylbromide (Soil fumigant - potatoes)
• Carbon disulfide (Fum)

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Depression, Stupor, Coma, Respiratory Failure
without convulsions

• Ops
• Carbamates
• Sodium Fluoride (Fum)
• Borate
• Diquat

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Seizures

• Organochlorines (I)
• Strychnine (R)
• Crimidine (R)
• Sodium fluoroacetate (R)
• Nicotine (I)
• Cyamide (R)
• Acrylonitrile (Fum)
• Metaldehyde (slug bait)
• Thallium (R)
• DEET (repellent)

• Chlorobenzilate (Asc)
• Carbon disulfide (Fum)
• Phosphine (Fum)
• Povidone-iodine (D)
• Hexachlorophene (D)
• Sodium chlorate (H)
• Endothall (H)
• Fluoride (I)

RRodenticide IInsecticide DDisinfectant
AscAscaride FumFumigant HHerbicide
Ffungicide
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Involuntary Muscle Movements
Fasciculations
Tremors

• OPs
• Carbamates
• Nicotine
• Sulfuryl fluoride (Fum)

• Organic mercury
• Thallium
• OPs
• Carbamates
• Nicotine
• Metaldehyde (slug bait)
• Borates (roach and ant control)

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Incoordination Muscle Weakness
Ataxia Incoordination
Paralysis/Paresis

• Halocarbon fumigants
• Ops
• Carbamates
• Carbon disulfide
• Nicotine
• Thallium

• Inorganic arsenicals
• OPs
• Carbamates
• Nicotine

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Neurological Effects on the Circulatory System
Hypertension
Hypotensive Shock

• Thallium (early)
• Nicotine (early)
• OPs

• Phosphorus
• Phosphides
• Phosphine
• Sodium fluoride
• Sodium chlorate
• Borate
• Thallium
• Endothall
• Cyanamide