Pesticide Health Effects Medical Education Database (PHEMED)

Health Effects of Pesticides on Health Effects of Pesticides on the Nervous Systemthe Nervous System

Pesticide Induced Signs Pesticide Induced Signs and Symptomsand Symptoms

• ParesthesiasParesthesias• HeadacheHeadache• Behavioral-mood Behavioral-mood

disturbancesdisturbances• Depression/stupor/Depression/stupor/

coma/respiratory coma/respiratory failurefailure

• SeizuresSeizures

• Muscle twitchingMuscle twitching• Tetany, carpopedal Tetany, carpopedal

spasmsspasms• TremorTremor• Incoordination/ataxiaIncoordination/ataxia• Paresis, muscle Paresis, muscle

weaknessweakness• Hypotensive shockHypotensive shock• HypertensionHypertension

ParesthesiasParesthesias

• Pyrethroids- cyno Pyrethroids- cyno group (I) – facialgroup (I) – facial

• Organophosphates (I)Organophosphates (I)• Organochlorines (I)Organochlorines (I)• Phosphides (R)Phosphides (R)• Thiobendazole (Asc)Thiobendazole (Asc)• Nicotine (late)Nicotine (late)

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

Facial - Transitory Extremities

HeadacheHeadachea common health outcome of pesticide exposure

• OP-Carbamates (I)OP-Carbamates (I)• Nicotine (I)Nicotine (I)• Metallic compounds Metallic compounds

(F): mercury, (F): mercury, cadmium, copper, cadmium, copper, organotinorganotin

• Thallium (R)Thallium (R)• Fluoride (I)Fluoride (I)• Borates (I)Borates (I)

• Naphthalene Naphthalene (moth balls)(moth balls)

• Phosphine (Fum)Phosphine (Fum)• Halocarbon fumigantsHalocarbon fumigants• Creosote (wood Creosote (wood

preservative)preservative)• Diquat (H)Diquat (H)• Cholecalciferol (R)Cholecalciferol (R)• Cyanamid (Fum)Cyanamid (Fum)

Behavioral-mood disturbancesBehavioral-mood disturbancesconfusion, excitement, mania, disorientation, emotional lability

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

• Diquat (H)Diquat (H)• Cyanide (Fum)Cyanide (Fum)• Nitrophenols (H)Nitrophenols (H)• Aminopyridine (bird bait)Aminopyridine (bird bait)• Methylbromide (Soil Methylbromide (Soil

fumigant - potatoes) fumigant - potatoes) • Carbon disulfide (Fum)Carbon disulfide (Fum)

Depression, Stupor, Coma, Depression, Stupor, Coma, Respiratory FailureRespiratory Failure without Convulsionswithout Convulsions

• Organophosphates (OP’s)Organophosphates (OP’s)• CarbamatesCarbamates• Sodium Fluoride (Fum)Sodium Fluoride (Fum)• Borate Borate • DiquatDiquat

• Rodenticides• Strychnine – (R)• Crimidine – (R)• Sodium fluoroacetate (R)• Cyamide – (R)• Thallium – (R)

• Insecticides• Organochlorines (I)• Nicotine (I)• Fluoride (I)Fluoride (I)• Chlorobenzilate (Asc)Chlorobenzilate (Asc)• Metaldehyde –(slug bait)

• Fumigants Fumigants • Acrylonitrile (Fum)Acrylonitrile (Fum)• Carbon disulfide (Fum)Carbon disulfide (Fum)• Phosphine (Fum)Phosphine (Fum)

• HerbicidesHerbicides• Sodium chlorate (H)Sodium chlorate (H)• Endothall (H)Endothall (H)

• DisinfectantsDisinfectants• Povidone-iodine (D)Povidone-iodine (D)• Hexachlorophene (D)Hexachlorophene (D)

• DEET (repellant)DEET (repellant)

R-Rodenticide I-Insecticide D-Disinfectant Asc-Ascaride Fum-Fumigant H-Herbicide F- Fungicide

SeizuresSeizures

Involuntary Muscle MovementsInvoluntary Muscle Movements

• OP’sOP’s• CarbamatesCarbamates• NicotineNicotine• Sulfuryl fluoride Sulfuryl fluoride (Fum)(Fum)

• Organic mercuryOrganic mercury• ThalliumThallium• OPsOPs• CarbamatesCarbamates• NicotineNicotine• Metaldehyde Metaldehyde (slug bait)(slug bait)

• Borates Borates (roach and ant (roach and ant control)control)

Fasciculations Tremors

Incoordination & Muscle WeaknessIncoordination & Muscle Weakness

• Halocarbon fumigantsHalocarbon fumigants• OpsOps• CarbamatesCarbamates• Carbon disulfideCarbon disulfide• NicotineNicotine• ThalliumThallium

• Inorganic arsenicalsInorganic arsenicals• OP’sOP’s• CarbamatesCarbamates• NicotineNicotine

Ataxia – Incoordination Paralysis/Paresis

Neurological Effects on the Neurological Effects on the Circulatory SystemCirculatory System

• Thallium (early)Thallium (early)• Nicotine (early)Nicotine (early)• OP’sOP’s

• PhosphorusPhosphorus• PhosphidesPhosphides• PhosphinePhosphine• Sodium fluorideSodium fluoride• Sodium chlorateSodium chlorate• BorateBorate• ThalliumThallium• EndothallEndothall• CyanamideCyanamide

Hypertension Hypotensive Shock