PSEP :: Tutorials/Slide sets :: Pesticide Applicator Core Tutorial :: Module 9: Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning

Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning

You should be aware of the early signs and symptoms of poisoning. It is important to remove the person from the source of exposure quickly. Remove contaminated clothing and wash off any chemical which has soaked through. You may save a life.

Goals for This Module

Be able to determine whether or not a person has been poisoned by a pesticide.
Learn to recognize kinds of poisoning and their symptoms.
Become familiar with chemical families and their toxicity.

Pesticide Poisoning or Not?

The symptoms of pesticide poisoning are similar to those of other types of poisoning and of other diseases. Heat exhaustion, food poisoning, asthma, and other illnesses are sometimes confused with pesticide poisoning. Just because a person becomes ill after using or being around pesticides is not proof that he is poisoned.

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The symptoms of poisoning described here may occur in a person who has been suddenly exposed to large quantities of a toxic material. They may also occur in a person who has been continuously exposed to smaller quantities of toxic material over longer periods of time. If the symptoms appear, call your doctor and tell him what pesticide was involved.

Kinds of Poisoning

Acute poisoning is the severe poisoning which occurs after exposure to a single dose of pesticide. The appearance of symptoms may be sudden and dramatic or they may be delayed.

Chronic poisoning is the poisoning which occurs as a result of repeated, small, non-lethal doses over a long period of time. Many symptoms may appear, such as nervousness, slowed reflexes, irritability, or a general decline in health. Some test animals are unable to reproduce normally after repeated exposure to pesticides.

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Medical Doctors Should Be Warned Ahead of Time

Many medical doctors may not be well informed as to the symptoms and treatment of pesticide poisoning. This is due to the few cases which they treat. Pesticide poisoning symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses and poisonings. You, the pesticide applicator, should tell your doctor which chemicals you use. Then he will know the symptoms and treatment, and can have the antidotes on hand.

Unfortunately, all pesticide poisoning symptoms are not the same. Each chemical family (i.e., organophosphates, carbamates, chlorinated hydrocarbons) can attack the human body in a different way. However, you should be aware of the general symptoms of pesticide poisoning.

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General Symptoms

Mild Poisoning or Early Symptoms of Acute Poisoning headache, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, restlessness, nervousness, perspiration, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, thirst, moodiness, soreness in joints, skin irritation, eye irritation, irritation of the nose and throat.

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Moderate Poisoning or Early Symptoms of Acute Poisoning nausea, diarrhea, excessive saliva, stomach cramps, excessive perspiration, trembling, no muscle coordination, muscle twitches, extreme weakness, mental confusion, blurred vision, difficulty in breathing, cough, rapid pulse, flushed or yellow skin, weeping.

Severe or Acute Poisoning fever, intense thirst, increased rate of breathing, vomiting, uncontrollable muscle twitches, pinpoint pupils, convulsions, inability to breathe, unconsciousness.

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Chemical Families

Pesticides which are chemically similar to one another are often grouped together into "families." Each pesticide in a family attacks a pest in a similar way. Treatment and antidotes for poisoning are also the same within each family. It is important that the doctor know which chemical family is involved. The following chart identifies the symptoms of pesticide poisoning in the major chemical families.

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If you are in doubt whether or not poisoning has occurred, let your doctor decide!

Effects of Pesticide Chemicals on the Human Body

Chemical Family	Type of Pesticide	Action on Human System	Symptoms Internal Exposure	Symptoms External Exposure	Symptoms Chronic Exposure

Organo- phosphates diazinon^C Spectracide^T	Insecticides, acaricides	Inhibits acetylcholi- nesterase (an enzyme) in the tissues	Headache, dizziness, weak- ness, shaking, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, sweating	Minimal rashes but readily ab- sorbed through the skin	Loss of appetite, weakness, weight loss, and general feeling of sickness

Carbamates carbaryl^CSevin^T	Insecticides acaricides	Reversible changes in acetylcholines- terase enzyme of tissues	Headache, dizziness, weak- ness, shaking, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, sweating	Minimal rashes but readily ab- sorbed through the skin	Loss of appetite weakness, weight loss, and general feeling of sickness

Organo- chlorines (Chlorinated Hydrocarbons) methoxychlor^CMarlate^T	Insecticides, acaricides (HCB is a fungicide)	Disrupt function of nervous system, mainly the brain	Headache, dizziness, weak- ness, shaking, nausea, excita- bility, disor- ientation	Minimal rashes but readily ab- sorbed through the skin	Some buildup in the fat tissues. May cause nerv- ousness, weak- ness, and shaking

Pentachlo- rophenol penta^CPentacon^T	Herbicides, defoliants, molluscicides, germ- icides,fungi- cides, and wood preservatives	Toxic to liver, kidneys, and nervous system	Headache, weakness, nausea, excessive sweating	Highly irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat	Weight loss, weakness, anemia

Chloro- phenoxy Pesticides 2,4-D^CWeed-B-Gon^T	Herbicides	Irritant to lung, stomach and in- testinal linings. Injure liver, kidney, and nervous system	Prompt vomit- ing, burning sensation in stomach, dia- rrhea, muscle twitching	Moderately irritating to eyes, skin, and lungs	Do not remain in body; passed out within hours or days

Paraquat and Diquat	Herbicides	Injure skin, nails, cornea, liver, kidney, linings of stomach and intes- tine, and respiratory system	Burning pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea	Irritates and injures skin and nails

Thiocarbamates and Dithiocarbamates Zineb ^T	Fungicides	Low human toxicity	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weak-ness, and nasal stuffiness	Irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

Pyrethrins and Pyreth- roids Prentox ^T Ectiban ^T		Very low human toxicity	Slight toxic reaction

Arsenical Pesticides	Rodenticides, insecticides, acaricides, marine anti- fouling com- pounds, desi- ccants, herbi- cides, fungicides	Toxic to liver, kidney, brain, bone marrow, and nervous system	Headache, burning stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizzi- ness. Garlic odor on breath and feces	Swelling of mouth and throat, irritating to nose, throat, and eyes	Accumulates in body. Chronic headaches, dizzi- ness, stomach- aches, salivation, low fever, garlic breath

Coumarins, Indandiones, and other Anti-coagulants warfarin^C		Prevents blood from clotting	Reaction if low accidental dose ingested

Sodium Fluoroacetate Compound 1080^T	Rodenticides	Extremely toxic. Affects heart tissue and brain	Stomach pain, vomiting, hallucination, nervousness	Minimal

Zinc Phosphide Phosdrin^T	Rodenticides	Highly toxic; severe intestinal irritation; severe injury to liver, kidneys, nervous system and heart	Intense nausea stomach pain, excitement, chills, cough	Minimal

Yellow phosphorus	Rodenticides	Highly toxic; blood system injury; injury to liver, nervous system, heart, and kidneys	Breath has garlic odor; feces may glow and smoke from phosphorus fumes; vomiting and diarrhea; burning pain in throat, stomach, and intestines	Dermal exposure usually low; irritates nose and throat

Strychnine and Crimidine	Rodenticides	Acts directly on cells in the brain and spinal cord to cause convulsions	Blue skin color; violent convulsions	Minimal

Red Squill Dethdiet^T	Rodenticides	Low toxicity	Prompt vomit- ing and nausea	Minimal	Excreted rapidly; not retained in body

ANTU and Norbormide	Rodenticides	Selectively toxic to rats; toxic to humans only in huge suicidal doses	Blue skin, labored breathing	Minimal

Sulfur Dioxide, For- maldehyde, Chloropicrin, and Acrolein	Fumigants	Strong irritant of lungs and throat	Headache, dizzi- ness, nausea, wheezing, cough	Severe irritation of eyes, nose, and throat. Blisters on skin

Methyl Bromide, Ethylene Oxide and Propylene Oxide	Fumigants	Serious injury to lungs; injures nervous system	Coughing of frothy fluid; severe shortness of breath, drowsiness, shaking, weakness	Irritates eyes, nose, and throat	Lack of coordination

Halocarbons ethylene dibromide^C	Fumigants	Injures heart muscles; also injures lungs, brain, liver and kidneys	Shock, drowsi- ness, shaking weakness	Irritates eyes, nose, throat. Blisters and redness on the skin	Liver damage, weight loss, and jaundice

Carbon disulfide	Fumigants	Injury to nervous system	Headache, dizzi- ness, nausea, and disorientation	Irritates eyes, nose, and throat. Blisters and red- ness on skin	Pain, tingling and weakness of arms and legs; loss of mental functions

Phosphine	Fumigants	Injures lungs, liver, kidneys, and nervous system	Weakness, shaking, vomit- ing, cough, diffi- culty in breathing, intense thirst	Irritates eyes, nose, and throat	Pain in eyes and nose; nosebleeds; abdominal pain

Metal Phosphides aluminum phosphide^C Phostoxin^T	Fumigants	Injures lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and nervous system	Nausea and vomiting followed by weakness, shaking, and dizziness	Irritants

Sulfuryl Flouride Vikane^T	Fumigants	Injures lungs and kidneys	Muscle twitching, convulsions	Irritant	Injury to kidneys and lungs

Hydrogen Cyanide, Acrylonitrile, and Sodium Cyanide	Fumigants, rodenticides	Injury to brain and heart tissues	Headache, nausea nausea, constric- tion of throat, dizziness, nervous- ness. Sudden un- consciousness	Irritant

4-Amino pyridine Avitrol^T	Avicides	Disrupts nervous system functions	Thirst, nausea, dizziness, weakness, excessive sweating

Chlordi- meform acaron^C	Insecticides, miticides	Bladder injury	Abdominal and back pain; pain- ful urination; blood in urine	Skin rash; sweet taste in mouth

Copper salts and Organic Complexes copper sulfate^C	Fungicides	Injures intestinal lining, brain, liver, kidneys, and blood	Prompt vomiting; burning pain in chest; diarrhea, headache, sweating	Irritates skin and eyes; damages mucous membranes

Cyclohexi- mide Acti-dione^T	Fungicides	Irritates stomach and intestine; injury to kidneys, brain lining, and nervous system	Excitement, tremors, sali- vation, diarrhea	Minimal

Endothall	Herbicides, algicides	Damages heart, blood vessels, nervous system, and intestional lining.	Convulsions, shock, lack of coordination	Irritating to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes

Nicotine Sulfate Black Leaf 40^T	Insecticides	Injures nervous system	Nausea, headache, diarrhea, dizzi- ness, shaking, ab- dominal pain, lack of coordination, sweating, sali- vation.	Minimal but readily absorbed through the skin

Phenylmercuric Salts phenylmercury acetate^CAgrosan^T	Fungicides	Injures nervous system and kidneys	Delirium, muscle weakness,lack of coordination	Minimal	Weakness and lack of coordination in arms and legs; difficulty in talking and swallowing

Sodium Chlorate Atratol^T	Herbicides, defoliants	Injury to intestines; restlessness tinal lining, nervous system, and kidneys	Swelling of mouth and throat; pain in esophagus, stomach, and intes-	Irritant

Acetamides butachlor^C Machete^T	Herbicides	Irritants		Moderately irritating to skin and eyes

Acetanilides alachlor^C Lasso^T	Herbicides	Irritant		Mild irritants; propa- chlor is a skin irritant and sensitizer

Alumino Flouride Salt cryolite^CKryocide^T	Insecticide	Irritant		Slight irritant of eyes, nose, and skin

Bensoic and and Benzilic Derivatives chloramben^CAmiben^T	Insecticides, herbicides	Irritant		Irritating to skin and respiratory tract

Benzonit- riles bromoxynil^CBuctril^T	Fungicides, Herbicides	Irritant	Moderately irritating to lungs	Moderately irritating to skin

Dithiocar- bamates mancozeb^CDithane M-45^T	Herbicides, fungicides	Do not inhibit cholinesterase; mild irritants.		Mild irritant to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

Carbanilate propham^CChem-Hoe^T	Herbicides	Irritant		Irritant and skin sensitizer

Dicarboxi- mides captan^C	Fungicides	Irritant		Skin irritant

Dinitroani- line Com- pounds trifluralin^CTreflan^T	Herbicides	Irritant		Slightly to moder- ately irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

Oxadiazola oxadiazon^CRonstar^T	Herbicides	Irritant		Irritating to skin and eyes

Picolinic Acid triclopyr^CGarlon^T	Herbicides	Irritant	Irritates lungs	Irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and and throat

Pyridazi- none maleic hydrazide^CRetard^T	Growth retardant	Irritant		Slightly irritating.

Phosphonomethyl Glycine glyphosate ^C Roundup ^T	Herbicides	Irritant	Irritates lungs	Irritates eyes

Thiadiazin(ol) betazon^C Basagran^T	Herbicides, fungicides	Irritant	Vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, and weak- ness caused by bentazon herbicides	Moderately irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

Triazines atrazine^CAAtrex^T	Herbicides	Irritant		Mildly irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

Uracils bromacil^C Hyvar^T	Herbicides	Irritant	Irritating to lungs	Irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

Urea diuron^C Karmex^T	Herbicides, insecticides	Irritant		Moderately irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and throat

C = Common name T = Trade name Table modified based on similar table in "Applying Pesticides Correctly", USDA, USEPA, written by Sally McDonald.