What Are Harmful Pesticides?

Research shows that Americans have an average of 12 parts per million of DDT, a dangerous insecticide, in the fatty tissues of their bodies. This is more than twice the amount of DDT allowed in commercially sold fish. In addition, doctors have recently linked common household pesticides with birth defects, neurological damage, and cancer. There are many types of harmful pesticides, many of which are present in common household herbicides and insecticides. There are four main classes of synthetic pesticides:

• Organochlorines: affect the reproductive, nervous, endocrine, and immune systems
• Organophosphates: affect the central nervous system
• Carbamates: affect the central nervous system
• Pyrethroids: doctors do not understand these effects well

Effects

In addition, there are three types of effects harmful pesticides cause in humans: acute, delayed, and allergic. Acute effects include illnesses or injuries that appear immediately after exposure. Acute effects are typically very obvious and reversible if you seek immediate medical care. Delayed effects, in contrast, are injuries or illnesses that do not appear directly after exposure. Delayed effects typically take anywhere from several months to several years to manifest themselves and can include serious diseases such as lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, asthma, and other immune system disorders. Allergic pesticide effects are those that some but not all people develop in reaction to pesticides.

Harmfulness

When it comes to the question of whether one synthetic pesticide is more harmful than another, it is important to keep in mind that all pesticides pose some level of harm to humans, animals, and the environment. However, the government has banned many of the pesticides that have resulted in the most severe health issues, including:

• 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T): caused serious illnesses for Vietnam veterans exposed to it during the war
• Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): one of the most well-known synthetic pesticides that has resulted in genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and diabetes in humans
• Dibromochloropropane (DBCP): also known as Nemagon and Fumazone; caused sterility in males

Although the government has banned many harmful pesticides, there are still many household pesticides that pose a great threat to animals, the environment, and even homeowners. If you decide to use traditional pesticides, it is essential to closely follow the directions on the label and avoid spraying any pesticides indoors, as this can easily contaminate the air you breathe. For more information on how to minimize exposure to harmful pesticides, it is a good idea to consult with a professional pest control company.