Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic

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Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic
Chemical Exposure and Pesticides
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Pesticide Injuries in Canada

• VERY FEW DOCTORS ARE ADEQUATELY TRAINED TO
  DETECT AND TREAT PESTICIDE POISONING
• BECAUSE SYMPTOMS OVERLAP WITH MANY OTHER
  ILLNESSES, PESTICIDE POISONING IS OFTEN
  MISDIAGNOSED

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Chemical Sensitivities and Pesticides

• In a survey of 6,800 people claiming to be
  chemically sensitive
• 80 asserted they knew when, where, with what,
  and how they were made ill.
• Of the 80, sixty percent blamed pesticides.

Source Nicholas Ashford, Ph.S, and Claudia S
Miller, M.S. Chemical Exposures-Low Levels,
High Stakes. Van Nostrant Reinhold, New York
1991
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Chemical Sensitivities and Pesticides

• Dursban insecticide warning label
• Caution, repeated exposure to cholinesterase
  inhibitors may without warning cause prolonged
  susceptibility to very small doses of any
  cholinesterase inhibitor
• So very small doses
• If this is not chemical sensitivity,
  what is?

Source Allan D. Lieberman, M.D. An Exposure to
Environmental Medicine. Winter 2003, The
Human Ecologist.
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Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

• Sept. 2003 study published in Environmental
  Health Perspectives (U.S. Department of Health
  and Human Services) found
• 12.6 of the population suffers from MCS
• 1.8 of population lost job as result of MCS

Source Environmental Health Perspectives More
than 12 of Population Reports Extreme
Sensitivity to Low Levels of Common Chemicals .
September 11, 2003. http//ehp.niehs.nih.gov/pre
ss/12pop.html
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Pathways to Pesticide Exposure
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Global Distribution of Toxins
Can circulate via our air, water and soil --
Result Grasshopper Effect
Source Arctic Assessment and Monitoring
Programme (AMAP), 1997 www.grida.no/amap
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Absorption of Pesticides

• Forearm 1
• Scalp 3.7
• Forehead 4.2
• Ear canal 5.4
• Abdomen 2.1
• Scrotal area 11.8
• Palm 1.3
• Ball of foot 1.6

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Chemical Exposure Immune System

• A rapid increase in TA1 (CD3, CD26) and T3
  positive (CD3) cells can be a very sensitive
  indicator of chemical exposure.
• Immune system testing and testing for
  auto-immunity should be routine in all patents
  after toxic exposure.
• Antibodies to certain chemicals can also be
  looked for.
• Check serum Cholinesterase levels (if an OP
  pesticide is suspected).

Source Defining Chemical Injury A Diagnostic
Protocol and Profile of Chemically Injured
Civilians, Industrial Workers and Gulf War by G.
Heuser, M.D.,Ph.D. , P. Axelrod and S. Heuser,
M.A. http//www.iicph.org/docs/ipph_Defining_Chem
ical_Injury.htm
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Pesticide Poisoning Symptoms

• Pesticides can irritate
• EYES NOSE THROAT SKIN
  
• NERVOUS SYSTEM
• burning, stinging,
• itches, rashes, and blistering of the skin
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramping
• wheezing and coughing
• headache, dizziness and general malaise

Source Pesticides and Human Health A Resource
for Health Care Professionals. Physicians for
Social Responsibility and Californians for
Pesticide Reform. P. 7 http//www.psrla.org/pes
thealth.htm
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Pesticides and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

• Both organophosphate and chlorinated pesticide
  (insecticides) exposure have been associated with
  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
• Studies
• Behan, Peter O. Chronic fatigue syndrome as a
  delayed reaction to chronic low-dose
  organophosphate exposure. J Nutr Environ Med
  19966341-350.
• Dunstan RHK, Donohoe M, Taylor W, et al. A
  preliminary investigation of chlorinated
  hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome. Med J
  Aust 1995163294-297.

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Pesticides and Asthma

• Some pesticides are sensitizers to the lung
• - Captafol, sulfur, Pyrethrins and pyrethroid
• EVEN THE FORMULANTS (inerts) are of concern
• petroleum distillates Xylene, Toluene etc.
• Formulants often make up gt98 of total mixture
• The PMRA lists 1000s of formulants including
  peanut oil, pine oil (dangerous allergens) put in
  pesticide mixtures
• Johanne Gelinas (Canadian Env. Sustainability
  Dev. Commissioner) remarked How safe are
  pesticides? The Fed. Govt should be able to
  answer that question, but it cant.

Source A. Senthilselvan, H.H. McDuffie, and
J.A. Dosman, Association of asthma with use of
pesticides, Am Rev Respir Dis 146 (1992)
88487. S.A. Box and M.R. Lee. A systemic
reaction following exposure to a pyrethroid
insecticide, Hum Exp Toxicol 15 (1996)5 38990.
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Pesticides Associated with Allergic Contact
Dermatitis
Acephate Malathion Benomyl Mancozeb Captan
Maneb Carbaryl Norflurazon Chlorothalonil
Omethoate Chlorpyrifos PCNB DCNA Permethrin
Diazinon Pyrethrum Dienochlor Sulfur
Dimethoate Thiram Ethoxyquin Vinclozolin
Folpet Zineb Fluvalinate Ziram
Fenbutatin-oxide Sources OMalley 1997,
Haenen 1996, Leow 1996
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OP Symptoms

• Abdominal pain, nausea, rhinorrhea (runny nose)
• Dizziness, headache, sleepiness, fatigue
• Gait disturbance, limb numbness, or unusual
  sensations in extremities
• Limb pain, or weakness
• J Occup Environ Med 2003 Feb 45(2)118-22

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Human Effects of Pesticides
Skin blisters and rashes from patients who had
pesticide poisoning
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Human Effects of Pesticides
Skin blisters and rashes from patients who had
pesticide poisoning
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OP (Dursban) Exposure

• SPECT Scan of a 65 year old male exposed to
  Dursban (chlorpyrifos)
• Became extremely impaired in functions of memory
  cognitive abilities, and energy

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The Gazette, June 2 1996

• Neuroscientists believe there is an interference
  in the brain during the critical months of fetal
  development
• Causes have been speculated from a faulty genetic
  mechanism to environmental insults.

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Neural Tube defects
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Dr. Elizabeth Guillette Study Pesticides in Mexico
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Pesticides and Brain cancer in Children

• Children with brain cancer are more than twice
  as likely to have been exposed to pesticides at
  home than are healthy children.
• The incidence of childhood brain cancer has
  increased 30 in the past 20 years.

Sources W.T. Sanderson, G. Talaska, D. Zaebst,
et al., Pesticide prioritization for a brain
cancer case-control study, Env Rsrch 74 (1997)
13344. S.H. Zahm, M.H. Ward, and A. Blair,
Pesticides and cancer, Occup Med (Philadelphia)
12 (1997) 36570. S.H. Zahm and M.H. Ward,
Pesticides and childhood cancer, Env Hlth Persp
106 (1998)3 893908.
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Ontario College of Family Physicians Review on
Pesticides (April 2004)

• IN MONTREAL a study on leukemia showed
• -that over 40 of children in the Montreal area
  had a specific genetic vulnerability to the
  effects of pesticides
• -due to having a genetic makeup that caused them
  to metabolize pesticides slowly.

Source Infante-Rivard C, Labuda D, Krajinovic M,
Sinnett D. Risk of childhood leukemia associated
with exposure to pesticides and with gene
polymorphisms comment. Epidemiology
199910481487. http//www.ocfp.on.ca
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Is 2,4-d Harmful To Humans?

• Long-term exposure can cause damage to the
  nervous system, kidneys and liver.
• In MINNESOTA, farming regions (1996)
• areas with high 2,4-d use had higher incidence
  of birth defects compared with regions that had
  low use of 2,4-d
• In 2005, California State lists the herbicide
  2,4-D and related compounds as being
  developmental toxicants

Source Garry VF, Schreinemachers D, Harkins M,
Griffith J. Pesticide appliers, biocides, and
birth defects in rural Minnesota. Environ Health
Perspectives 1996104(4)394-9. USEPA. Consumer
factsheet on 2,4-D. Available at
http//www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/c-soc/24-d.html.
http//www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/CRNR_notices/admin
_listing/intent_to_list/NOILPkg5e.html
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Is 2,4-d Harmful To Humans?

• 2,4-d can be tracked from lawns into homes
• Residues found in carpets, on surfaces, and
  indoor air.
• A simulation study calculated that it would be
  expected to persist in carpet dust up to one year
  after a lawn application.

Souces Nishioka MG et al. Measuring transport
of lawn-applied herbicide acids from turf to
home correlation of dislodgeable 2,4 D turf
residues with carpet dust and carpet surface
residues, Environmental Science Technology
1996303313-3320. Nishioka M, Lewis R,
Brinkman M, et al. Distribution of 2,4-D in air
and on surfaces inside residences after lawn
applications comparing exposure estimates from
various media for young children. Environ Health
Perspect 2001 Nov109(11)1185-91.
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Pesticides vs Human Endocrine System

• Women often complain of loss of sex drive and of
  irregular menstrual bleeding.
• Men frequently complain of loss of libido and
  potency.

Sources Colborn et al., 1997 Barnard and
Heuser, 1998. http//www.iicph.org/docs/ipph_Defi
ning_Chemical_Injury.htm
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Endocrine Disrupting Pesticides
Sources L. Keith, Environmental endocrine
disruptors New York Wiley Interscience, 1997)
J. Liebman, Rising toxic tide (San Francisco
Pesticide Action Network/Californians for
Pesticide Reform, 1997) Illinois EPA, Report on
endocrine disrupting chemicals (Illinois
EPA,1997) T. Colborn, D. Dumanoski, and J.P.
Myers, Our stolen future (New York Penguin
Books, 1996), 253 C.M. Benbrook, Growing doubt
A primer on pesticides identified as endocrine
disruptors and/or reproductive Toxicants (The
National Campaign for Pesticide Policy Reform,
September 1996).
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Is 2,4-d Harmful To Pets?

• April 2004 Purdue University Study
• Concluded
• Exposure to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens
  increases the risk of bladder cancer in Scottish
  terriers.
• "The risk of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)
  was found to be between four and seven times more
  likely in exposed animals."

Souces Lawrence T. Glickman, Malathi Raghavan,
Deborah W. Knapp, Patty L. Bonney and Marcia H.
Dawson Herbicide Exposure and the Risk of
Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary
Bladder in Scottish Terrier Dogs Am Vet Med Assoc
20042412901297
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Facts on chlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)

• Do not apply on windy days or when wind is
  blowing toward desirable plants
• May remain active in the soil, 1 to 6 weeks
• Over time will bind to organic matter in soil and
  is eventually degraded by the microbes in the
  soil
• Will degrade to ½ concentration in days

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Facts on 2,4-D

• In water the 2,4-D and its oil-soluble amine
  salt and esther do not dissolve well
• May appear in ground water in small amounts,
  dissipate rapidly in moving water but is still
  detected in bogs/swamps after 6 months

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Facts on 2,4-D

• 2,4-D also includes inert formulants some of
  which are suspected of being highly toxic by the
  International Agency for Research on Cancer
  (IARC). Some forms of 2,4-D are more toxic than
  others hence unequal study results.
• What the lawn care industry doesn't tell us is
  that Health Canada measures exposures to one
  chemical at a time in rats (!) and doesn't
  account for the cumulative and comprehensive
  effect of the chemical "soup" to which children
  are already exposed in the womb.

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Toxic Legacy (EPA information)

• 2,4-D can cause peripheral neuropathy, liver,
  kidney, digestive, muscular and nervous system
  damage.
• Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, headache,
  dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, eye and
  nasal irritation, skin irritation, hypertension
  and slowed heart rate
• Even with a ½ life of 13 to 39 hours so much is
  used it is almost always in our body.

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Where is 2,4-d not allowed?

• Countries that restrict 2,4-d use
• - Kuwait,
• -Norway,
• -Denmark,
• -Sweden,
• -Belize (no on livestock,
  crops), and -Korea
  (no aerial spraying on forage crops)
• Quebecs Pesticide Code disallows 2,4-d (and
  others) for cosmetic use on lawns.
• Currently Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal,
  and 96 other Canadian municipalities have now
  implemented bans on the cosmetic use of pesticides

Sources Risks From Lawn-Care Pesticides
Including Inadequate Packaging and Labeling
Environment Human Health, Inc.
www.ehhi.org Quebec Pesticide Code
http//www.menv.gouv.qc.ca/pesticides/permis-en/co
de-gestion-en/ Municipal bylaw statistics
available at www.healthyottawa.ca
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The latest insecticide Merit

• Merit (Imidacloprid) has recently replaced
  insecticides Dursban and Diazinon as a grub
  killer
• Imidacloprid is a chlorinated nicotine compound
  that affects the nervous system
• Imidacloprid degrades into toxic, persistent,
  carcinogenic
• 2-chloro pyridine
• Inert ingredients / contaminants of "Merit" have
  been reported to include the carcinogens
  naphthalene and crystalline silica

Source www.healthyottawa.ca (Fact Sheets)
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Pyrethrins / Pyrethroids

• Used as an insecticide
• Derived from chrysanthemum
• Mixed with solvents
• Widely used in the home
• Can cause nausea, dizziness, headache, cough
• Exerts toxic effect by interfering with nerve
  cell function, alters sodium channels in cell
  membranes. Susceptible people can have allergic
  responses including death
• May permanently alter behavior in animals

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Health Cycle
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Alternatives

• Instead of using dangerous synthetic pesticides,
  try
• Corn gluten and/or vinegar for weed control
• Nematodes for grub control
• Insecticidal Soaps
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacteria, kills
  insects. Bt can be purchased in Quebec as
  DipelR,ThuricideR and EnvirobacR
• Diatomaceous earth - use insect killing
  variety. Brand names Chemfree / Insectigone
• Borax mixed with granulated sugar for indoor
  insect control
• Natural predators such as ladybugs

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Books of Interest
Pesticides Making the Right Choice For the
Protection of Health and the Environment Written
by the Standing Committee on Environment and
Sustainable Development. House of Commons,
Canada. May 2000
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Books of Interest
Download from www.ehhi.org
A well referenced document with citations to peer
reviewed literature
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Books of Interest
Free Download from http//www.psrla.org/pesthealt
h.htm
Pesticides and Human Health is an essential
resource for physicians and other health
providers for understanding the chronic health
impacts of pesticides.
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Books of Interest
Free Download at http//www.panna.org
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Books of Interest
Ontario College of Family Physicians Study Free
Download at http//www.ocfp.on.ca