WARING : Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health!
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Dangerous to your Health!
CPAK: Community Pesticide Action Kits
Taking action locally!
07181
Acknowledgements:
The publication of this module has been made possible with support from:
ASEAN Canada
CUSO, Canada
Evangelische Zentralstelle Fur Entwicklungshilfe e. V (EZE), Germany
Humanistisch Instituut Voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (HIVOS), Netherlands
Netherlands Organizationfor International Development Cooperation (N0V1B), Netherlands
Information for this module has been gleaned from many sources. Special thanks go to Marion
Moses of Pesticide Education Center whose books, “Harvest of Sorrow- Farm Workers
and Pesticides” Part I and II were useful in putting this module together.
Principal Writers: Romeo Quijano and Sarojeni V. Rengam
Editor: Ronald Macfarlane
Editorial Team: Irene Fernandez, Jeyamary M. Anthony, Lyn Redoble, Berdy Steven, Agus
Sugiartoto, Lolit Suplido and Worsono
Production Layout and Design: Yanes Govindaraj
Illustrations: Allan Woong
Special Thanks to: Jennifer Mourin and a very special thanks to Gregg Strong who helped
draft some of the CPAK modules and guided CPAK through its initial years.
Dedicated to the memory of Bernardo Calibo - employed for intermittent periods between
1967 to 1988 at IRRI and handled chemicals. In 1987, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's
disease and terminatedfrom work the year after. He succumbed to his illness and died in the
first week ofSeptember 1999.
Published by: Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP)
Penang
November 1999
ISBN: 983-9381-11-3
Series: 983-9381-09-1
Community Health Cell
Library and Documentation Unit
367, "Srinivasa Nilaya"
Jakkasandra 1st Main,
1st Block, Koramangala,
BANGALORE-560 034.
Phone : 5531518
PREFACE
The Community Pesticide Action Kit or CPAK has been prepared to
help rural communities in Asia think about the problems that pesti
cides cause. It also encourages them to act collectively to address
some of the issues. CPAK is produced by an ASEAN team of citizens’
groups and peoples organisations:>
>
>
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Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, based in Malaysia
Gita Pertiwi, Indonesia
Pesticide Action Network Philippines, The Philippines
Tenaganita, Malaysia
Nine modules will address various aspects of concern:
Warning! Pesticides are a Danger to your Health
Breaking the Silence: Pesticides in Plantations
Profiting from Poisons: The Pesticides Industry
Pesticides Destroy our World
Women and Pesticides
Drop Pesticides: An introduction to Sustainable Agriculture
Keeping Watch: Pesticides Laws
How to say NO! to Pesticides: Community Organising
Seeking out the Poisons: A guide to Community Monitoring
However, more modules are expected in future. The modules are not
complete in themselves. Many additional materials in local languages
will be needed. You may wish to supplement the modules with:
Cartoons
Drama
Games
Pictures
Posters
Puppets
Radio scripts
Slides
Stickers
Videos
Check around to find suitable materials. Many of these can actually
be made by the community. You may always contact Pesticide Ac
tion Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) for guidance.
PAN AP would be very happy to receive any feedback on the kit and
how you have used it. Lets work together to rid the world of toxic
pesticides.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
CONTENTS
page
1) The Health Effects of Pesticides
1
2) Some Pesticides and their
Symptoms
26
3) Listen to your Body!
29
4) Keep an Eye Out
37
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
The Health Effects of Pesticides
On the early morning of December 9, 1996, workers in Malita, Davao del Sur, Philippines,
tried out a new pesticide in their cacao plantation. Pests in the area were becoming resis
tant to the other pesticides, they said. They thought it was time to try out stronger chemi
cals.
Twenty-two workers started spraying at 7:00 in the morning, not knowing that they were
dealing with a very dangerous nerve gas type of pesticide. An hour later, one was uncon
scious. After three hours, the rest experienced nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurring of
vision. Several more lost consciousness. They were all brought to a hospital.
A second group of workers started at 10:00 in the morning of the same day, not knowing
what had happened to the others. Within hours, they too were experiencing the same
symptoms. Volunteer rescuers went to the area to help them but they too, were poisoned.
In all, 52 persons were admitted to hospitals for pesticide poisoning that day, 35 of them,
severely affected.
fl.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 1
Pesticides Affect Everyone
Your health. Your family’s health. Your community’s health.
For farmers and families throughout the world who use (or live close to others who use)
pesticides, their number one concern is how these might affect their health.
It’s not just the farmer or labourer spraying pesticides who needs to be concerned. It s also
families and neighbours who live close to where pesticides are used. It s pregnant women
concerned about their unborn children. It’s livestock and fish and birds. And its whole
communities whose water or food may be contaminated!
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Pesticide companies often talk about the "safe use of pesticides or adver
tise "environmentally friendly'1 pesticides.
Bad information can be murder!
page 2
Both of these statements are false. Pesticides are poisons - they can never
be safe to use!
Pesticides kill living organisms and remain to contaminate land and waterthey can never be friendly to the environment!
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Alxe they are being
6° <v°
%
Because many symptoms of pesticide poisoning are similar to
other health problems - for example, skin rashes and dizzi
ness - often people don’t realize they are already being poi
soned.
Because many problems don’t show up immediately, such as
nervous disorders or cancer, people don’t realize that these
illnesses may be caused by pesticides.
Many doctors are not trained to recognize pesticide-related
illnesses or might even be discouraged by farm management
from diagnosing them.
If you don’t feel well after being exposed to pesticides, it is
possible you have been poisoned. If you continue to be ex
posed, you could become seriously ill.
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Don’t let anyone else - a farm manager, a husband or a health
worker-tell you that there’s nothing wrong, that it’s only the
sun or bad food or something commonplace.
Learn to trust the messages from your body!
*>0^
O
one who
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 3
%
• Farmers and Workers are Regularly Exposed to Pesticides
Bilkis, a woman farmer who is three months pregnant, picks cotton while her husband sprays
pesticides. She is barefoot and uses no protective clothing. After working in the fields she
feeds the animals, changes and hangs up her used clothes for use during the following day’s
work. Next day she continues work in her farm. When she is giddy she takes a fifteen-minute
break and then continues working. She says, “when we enter the fields for the first picking, it
is extremely suffocating. In fact, the whole village stinks with the smell of pesticides."
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Carlos is a field worker with an international research centre from 1977 to 1990. He was
exposed to a range of pesticides during those years. He was diagnosed with leukemia and
his sickness was certified as work-related. He died on 23 January 1997 at the age of 38,
leaving a wife and two children.
Every year about 25 million workers
suffer pesticide poisoning
page 4 ... C-PAK: WARDING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
• Children are also exposed
“We had No Idea What to Do”, said a sobbing village women.
On 22 October 1999, 60 students sat down for breakfast in a village in Peru. Half an hour
later, some of the children started retching with stomach cramps and collapsed around the
school. They were screaming, vomiting and grabbing their bellies. Some were dead, while
others lay writhing on the grass and in the school building. They were rushed to a hospital.
Twenty-four children, some as young as four died. Doctors were fighting to save another 21
children who collapsed after consuming milk and cereals in school.
Local police and doctors found traces of an insecticide in the victim’s stomach. It was later
found that one of the bags of milk donated for the school breakfast was mixed with parathion,
an insecticide and used to kill dogs and rodents. This was left lying in front of one farmer’s
house. The school children walking to school saw the bag and thinking that it was for their
breakfast took it to school and prepared breakfast with it.
“I help my Ma”, said Premanathan, a ten year old
boy.
Premanathan lives with his parents and five brothers and
sisters. His is a farming family and his parents grow veg
etables for the market. He helps in the farm after school
and is often given money to go to the nearest retail shop
to buy pesticides for the farm. He carries the containers
on his shoulder and walks home. The used containers
are thrown in the garden and his six-year old brother and
his seven-year old sister often play with them. Once after
playing with the used pesticide containers, his sister fainted
and was rushed to the clinic for treatment. She came
home after a day.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 5
How do these Pesticides Poison People?
This can happen through spills on clothing or directly on the skin, when a farmer touches
crops which have just been sprayed, when pesticide spray settles on skin or soaks
clothing, when a farmer mixes pesticides with bare hands, or when a family member
washes pesticide-contaminated clothes.
For farmers or workers in the fields, the major way that they are exposed to pesticides is
through the skin.
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This is most common for farmers who spray pesticides, or for people nearby when
spraying is done. It is important to remember that some poisonous pesticides have no
smell.
This occurs when someone drinks pesticides accidentally or on purpose, when people
eat food or drink water polluted with pesticides, or when people eat with their hands
without carefully washing off pesticides which they had just handled.
10% Others
90% Through
the Skin
How pesticides get into the body
page 6 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Acute Health Effects of Pesticides
All pesticides are potentially harmful to your health. There are two types of poisoning - imme
diate and long-term.
Acute toxicity occurs when the poisonous effects of the pesticide are felt right away. An
other name for acute toxicity is acute poisoning.
Chronic toxicity occurs when the poisonous effects of pesticides on your health are delayed.
That is, they take a long time to develop. These long-term effects may not occur until after
months or years of exposure to the pesticide.
Some Acute Health Effects include:
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C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 7
• What is the meaning of “local effects” of acute pesticide
poisoning?
Local acute effects are those that affect only the parts of the body the pesticide comes in
direct contact with.
Local acute effects can be irritant effects such as dryness, burning, redness, and itching of
the eyes, nose, throat and skin; watering of the eyes, and cough.
Or they can be skin problems, such as redness, itching, burning, rashes, blisters and
discolouration. A common symptom of pesticide poisoning is when fingernails and toenails
turn black or blue. In bad cases, the nails will even fall off.
• What is the meaning of “systemic effects” of acute pesticide
poisoning?
Systemic effects of pesticide poisoning occur when the pesticide gets inside your body and
affects your whole system.
Your blood carries the pesticide to all parts of your body and can affect your eyes, heart,
lungs, stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, muscles, brain and nerves.
The symptoms of systemic poisoning, and how quickly the pesticide poisons you depends on
the type of chemical, and how long you are exposed to the pesticide, and how acutely toxic it
is.
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page 8 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Do pesticides have acute effects on the skin?
YES!
• Which pesticides are known to cause skin problems among farm
workers?
Fungicides as a group are more likely to cause skin diseases than other classes of pesticides.
However, herbicides, insecticides and fumigants have also been reported to cause skin prob
lems.
Pesticides are toxic substances which can be absorbed by the body through the skin. The
skin is destroyed by the poisonous chemicals.
Sometimes, skin reactions come in the form of an allergy to the pesticide or another compo
nent in the formulation. The skin reacts strongly to the chemical even if the exposure is
minimal.
Exposure to the sun can worsen some pesticide skin problems.
Fungicides
Herbicides
Insecticides
Fumigants
Dazomet
Arsenic
2,4-D
Benomyl
Dichloropropene
Cryolite
Alachlor
Captafol
Dienochlor
Ethylene oxide
Allidochlor
Captan
Metam sodium
Dinitrophenol
Chlorothalonil
Amitrole
Methyl bromide
Malathion
Atrazine
Copper sulfate
Naled
Dicloran (DCNA) Barban
Parathion
Dinobuton
Diquat
Pyrethrins
Glyphosate
Dinocap
MCPA
Ditalimfos
Nitralin
Dithianon
Paraquat
Dyrene
Phenmedipham
Folpet
Propachlor
HCB
Pyrazon
Maneb
Mancozeb
Organotins
PCNB
Just because a pesticide is not on this list does not mean that it
PCB
is safe for your skin. Our bodies react differently to these chemi
Sulfur
cals. Some people are more prone to develop reactions than
Thiophanate others.
Thiram
Triphenyltin
Zineb
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 9
• How can you tell if a rash is caused by a pesticide?
Sometimes it may be difficult to tell which pesticide is causing a skin problem because work
ers are usually exposed to more than one pesticide.
Sometimes the skin problem is caused by things other than the pesticide: a reaction to the
crop the worker is exposed to, insect bites, allergies to other substances, or skin infections.
Special tests, such as a patch test, can usually tell what is causing the rash. However, these
types of tests are rarely available to farmers or workers. Generally, if a skin rash is noted
after exposure to a pesticide, and if it disappears after exposure is stopped, then it is likely
that the pesticide is causing the rash.
Rashes
page 10 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Do pesticides have chronic effects on
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the0' Many pesticides used in agriculture are very harmful to the brain and nerves.
Chemicals which harm the nervous system are called neurotoxins.
Some of the symptoms of organic brain disease caused by pesticides are severe
memory problems, difficulty concentrating, changes in personality, paralysis, sei
zures, unconsciousness and coma.
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Because the body uses the liver to break down toxic chemicals into less harmful
substances, the liver itself is often harmed by pesticides. This can lead to toxic
hepatitis.
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Vomiting, stomach aches and diarrhea are common symptoms of pesticide poi
soning. Chronic exposure can also lead to more serious stomach problems. Many
people who have worked with pesticides for years have a difficult time eating
even regular foods.
For people who swallow pesticides - either accidentally or on purpose - the dam
age to the stomach is terrible. The pesticides eat right through the walls of the
stomach.
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C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 11
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Allergic reactions are disturbances in the body’s immune system. It is a body’s
reaction to a foreign substance. Pesticides vary in their capacity to produce aller
gic reactions, and different people react in different degrees to pesticides.
Some pesticides have been found to disturb the body’s immune system in a more
dangerous way. Some pesticides can weaken the body’s capacity to resist and
fight infections. This means that it is easier to get infections. Or, if there is an
infection already present, the illness becomes more complicated and difficult to
cure.
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Studies on animals have shown that pesticides affect the body’s hormone produc
tion. Hormones are chemicals produced by organs such as the brain, thyroid,
parathyroid, kidneys, adrenals, testes and ovaries, to control important bodily func
tions. Some pesticides affect reproductive hormones causing decreased sperm
production in the male or abnormal egg development in the female. Some pesti
cides can cause thyroid enlargement which could lead to thyroid cancer.
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Illustration from ‘Our Stolen Future: Are we threatening our fertility, intelligence and survival? - A
scientific detective story’, by Theo Colbom, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers; Dutton, 1996.
page 12 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
• Can pesticide exposure cause a miscarriage?
Many pesticides commonly used in agriculture are known or suspected to cause miscarriages
in laboratory animals and so it is very possible they do the same to human beings.
Pesticides which cause miscarriages are called embryotoxins.
Some studies show that a mother’s exposure to pesticides during the first months of preg
nancy can cause a miscarriage.
It is also possible that parents’ exposure to pesticides before a baby is conceived can cause
miscarriages.
• Can pesticides cause stillbirth?
Many pesticides commonly used in agriculture are known or suspected to cause stillbirth in
laboratory animals. That is, their offsprings are born dead.
Pesticides which cause still birth are called fetotoxins.
Some studies suggest that the mother’s exposure to pesticides during pregnancy can be
related to the occurrence of stillbirths.
It is also possible that parents’ exposure to pesticides before a baby is conceived can cause
a stillbirth.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 13
• Can pesticides cause sterility in men?
Yes!
Some pesticides are known to cause sterility and infertility in men. There are men who found
they could no longer have children after exposure to these pesticides.
Some pesticides used in agriculture are known to cause infertility and sterility in animals.
Pesticides can be very harmful to sperm cells, killing or deforming them.
Pesticides that harm sperm cells are called spermatotoxins or reproductive toxins.
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• Can a husband working with pesticides affect his pregnant wife
who is otherwise not exposed?
Research into these chemicals suggest that it is possible for an unborn child to be damaged
even if the mother is not working with pesticides. Damage can come from contact with a
husband involved in spraying.
page 14 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
• Are babies exposed to pesticides when they breastfeed?
Yes, if the mother is exposed. However, breastfeeding is still very important for the wellbeing
and nutrition of the baby. There are a great many protective substances in breastmilk which
the baby cannot get from artificial feeding.
When pesticides enter the mother’s body, they go to various organs such as the liver or
kidneys and are only excreted through urine, faeces or sweat. Pesticides also go to the fatty
parts of the body where they accumulate. One place is the woman’s breasts. Breastmilk is
often used to measure pesticide contamination because it is easy to get samples. Much
easier than talking painful biopsies to measure other fatty tissue. Remember that other or
gans and all fatty parts of everyone’s body would be contaminated. Rather than stopping
breastfeeding we should stop pesticide use.
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Breastmilk is Best for Babies
7
• Do pesticides cause birth defects?
Yes!
Many pesticides which pass through the skin can also pass through the placenta and affect
the developing child. There are studies which suggest a link between a mother’s exposure to
pesticides and birth defects. This is particularly the case for exposure during the first three
months of pregnancy because this is when the baby’s organs are being formed.
Because you are exposed to pesticides which can cause birth defects does not mean that
your baby will develop birth defects. It simply means that your baby’s chance of having birth
defects is higher.
We do not know yet whether parents’ exposure to pesticides before a baby is conceived can
cause birth defects.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 15
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• What pesticides are known or suspected to cause birth defects?
Chemicals which cause birth defects are called teratogens.
Many chemicals used in manufacturing pesticides are known or suspected to cause birth
defects in laboratory animals. As laboratory animals are mammals whose bodies are vulner
able to poisoning or disease just like people, there is a reasonable chance that these chemi
cals might similarly affect people.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a list of the following common pesticides
which are known or suspected to cause birth defects (see the box below).
Herbicides
Fungicides
Insecticides
Acrolein
Bentazone
Cyanazine
Bromoxynil
2,4-D
Dinocap
Dinoseb
Diquat
Nitrofen
Picloram
2,4,5-T
Benomyl
Captafol
Folpet
HCB
Mancozeb
Maneb
Tributyltin oxide
Tripbutyltin fluoride
Triphenyltin acetate
Avermectin
Chlordimeform
Endosulfan
Ethion
Phosmet
Methyl parathion
Mirex
Trichlorfon
page 16 ... C-PAK: WARDING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
• Do pesticides cause cancer?
Yes!
There are studies which show a relationship between exposure to pesticides and cancer in
humans. This does not mean that if you are exposed to pesticides that can cause cancer, you
will develop cancer. It means that your chances of getting cancer are greater than if you had
not been exposed.
Another way of saying this is that you have a greater risk of getting cancer.
Chemicals which cause cancer are called carcinogens.
• Which pesticides are known or suspected to cause cancer?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) the pesticides listed in the box
below are known or suspected to cause cancer.
This is just the beginning: the California Environmental Protection Agency has a list more
than three times as long.
Insecticides
Fungicides
Herbicides
Fumigants
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chlordane
Chlordimeform
Captafol
Captan
Chlorothalonil
Folpet
HCB
Maneb
Mancozeb
Acetochlor
Acifluorfen
Alachor
Amitrole
Oxadiazon
DBCP
EDB
Dichloropropane
Dichloropropene
DDT
Dichlorvos
Dieldrin
Heptachlor
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 17
Nerve Gas iype Pesticides
What types of pesticides are most acutely toxic or
poisonous?
The most acutely toxic or poisonous pesticides are the ones similar to nerve gas - the orga
nophosphates and methyl carbamates.
These pesticides are very dangerous because they attack cholinesterase, a substance that
our nervous system needs to function properly. Nerve gas pesticides decrease the level of
cholinesterase and that is what causes the symptoms of poisoning.
Nerve gas pesticides cause the most number of pesticide-related deaths throughout the world.
Some of the most poisonous nerve gas type pesticides are listed in the table below.
Organophosphates
Azinophosmethyl
Demeton methyl
Dichlorvos / DDVP
Disulfoton
Ethion
Ethyl parathion / Parathion
Fenamiphos
Fensulfothion
Methamidophos
Methidathion
Methyl parathion
Mevinphos
Phorate
Sulfotepp
Terbufos
AAethylcarbamates
Aldicarb
Carbofuran
Fomentanate
Methomyl
Oxamyl
Propoxur
page 18 ... C-PAK: WARNING’ Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
How long does it take to develop symptoms of
poisoning from nerve gas type pesticides?
Acute poisoning can occur soon after exposure, usually within hours. The amount of time it
takes for symptoms to develop depends on the following factors:
how poisonous the pesticide is
how concentrated the pesticide is and what it is mixed with
how you are exposed — was it spilled directly onto your skin or was it
ingested
how long you have been working with the pesticide
what protective clothing/equipment you are using
what other pesticides you are using
what the weather is like - is it hot or humid
Nerve Gas Type Pesticides
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 19
• Symptoms of MILD poisoning by nerve gas type pesticides
A person who is poisoned may have some or all of these symptoms, depending on the pes
ticide and how quickly it poisoned them.
It is unusual to have only one symptom. It is possible to be mildly poisoned and not notice
any of these symptoms especially if these develop gradually.
If you have any of these symptoms while working with pesticides, you should leave the
work site immediately. You should not wait for more symptoms to develop or for
these to get worse.
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Abdominal pains
Blurry vision
Chest pain
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Dizziness
Excessive sweating
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Increased secretions from
the eyes, nose and mouth
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page 20 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
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Diarrhoea
Muscle pains and
cramps
• Symptoms of MODERATE poisoning
The symptoms of moderate poisoning by nerve gas type pesticides are the ones already
listed for mild poisoning plus the following:
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Confusion
Difficulty walking
Difficulty concentrating
General weakness
Muscle twitching
Small pupils (miosis)
If the poisoning occurred gradually over a few days or more, there may also be:
2
Difficulty in sleeping
Nightmares
Restlessness
If exposure continues, severe poisoning can result.
A worker who is moderately poisoned may have some or all of these symptoms, depending
on the pesticide and the duration of exposure.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 21
• Symptoms of SEVERE poisoning
The symptoms of severe poisoning by nerve gas type pesticides are in addition to the ones
already listed plus the following:
Unconsciousness
0
Involuntary urination and defecation
Coma
Very small pupils (marked miosis)
Blue color of lips and nailbeds (cyanosis)
Difficulty breathing
Convulsions
Death
If severe poisoning is not recognized and treated promptly and correctly, the victim may die.
For Action!
Check the labels of the pesticides you are using.
Are any of these nerve gas type pesticides?
How often are you exposed to these pesticides?
Through which routes do these pesticides enter your body?
Have you experienced any of the above symptoms while
you were using these pesticides?
page 22 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
• What is a cholinesterase test?
Cholinesterase is an enzyme in the blood needed to make nerves function properly. When
someone is poisoned by organophosphate or carbamate pesticides, the level of cholinest
erase goes down.
There are two types of cholinesterase in your blood one in your red blood cells and one in
your plasma and there are two types of cholinesterase tests.
Because the tests examine different things, it is best if both types are done. If you can only
get one type of test, however, it is best to get the level of cholinesterase in the red blood cells
because it can tell the doctor more about what type of treatment would be effective.
• Will a doctor know from a cholinesterase test if I have been
poisoned?
If you have been severely poisoned, yes, because your cholinesterase level will clearly be
very low.
Sometimes, however, it is difficult to tell from one test if someone has been mildly or moder
ately poisoned. This is because everybody’s cholinesterase level is different. Because of
this, you will need another test - done when you have not been exposed to pesticides - as a
comparison.
A doctor may tell you your cholinesterase level is normal, but do not feel secure until you have
done a comparison test!
Persons who have been exposed for long periods should have their levels checked regularly.
For Action!
Do you work with nerve gas type pesticides?
If so, does your company have a programme for regular
monitoring of cholinesterase levels?
Are there trained personnel who can interpret the results?
If these services are not available, what steps can you take
to lobby for better health care?
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 23
• If I have been poisoned, how long will it take my cholinesterase
level to go back to normal?
It depends on the type and severity of the pesticide poisoning. It can take as short as two
days or longer than a month before your cholinesterase level goes back to normal levels.
Until your cholinesterase level is high enough, it is not safe for you to go back to work! If your
levels are persistently low, it is dangerous for you to be exposed again.
100% (of baseline)
Normal for you - baseline
75% (of baseline)
Mild poisoning - usually no symptons
50% (of baseline)
Moderate poisoning - may have symptons
25% (of baseline)
Severe poisoning - usually have headache, dizziness,
nausea and vomiting, sweating and other symptoms
0% (no activity)
For Action!
Unconcious - can die if not treated
If you find out that your cholinesterase level is dangerously
low, what will you do?
Will it be possible for you to find other work?
page 24 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
• Are there drugs that can be used to treat poisoning with nerve gas
type pesticides?
The treatment for poisoning by organophosphate and methyl carbamate pesticides is a drug
called atropine. Atropine is an antidote, a drug that counteracts the effects of a poison.
Another drug that is recommended as an antidote for some types of organophosphate poi
soning is pralidoxime (2-PAM). It is effective only if given soon after the poisoning occurs.
There are prescribed ways of giving these drugs - when, how much, how often and for how
long. Antidotes are also toxic substances and they can poison you if these are not properly
used.
• Are there drugs to counteract poisoning with other kinds of pesti
cides?
No!
There is no antidote for most cases of pesticide poisoning.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous toyour Health ... page 25
Some Pesticides and their Symptoms
What are the symptoms of paraquat poisoning?
Paraquat is a powerful irritant that can cause severe injury to the eyes, skin, nose and throat.
It can cause skin and throat ulcers and severe nose bleeds.
Paraquat damages the fingernails, which can even fall out.
It can cause liver and kidney failure.
It can cause scarring of the lungs causing death from suffocation.
• Is there an antidote to paraquat poisoning?
No!
It takes only a small amount of paraquat concentrate to cause death, especially when this is
swallowed.
Workers have died from paraquat absorbed through the skin.
Paraquat has caused many deaths around the world.
For Action!
Are you exposed to paraquat?
How often?
Through which routes does it enter your body?
Have you experienced any of the above symptoms while
you were using this pesticide?
page 26 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
What are the symptoms of methyl bromide
poisoning?
Headache
Shakiness
Dizziness
Difficulty walking
Nausea
Convulsions
Vomiting
Methyl bromide is a gas that has no colour and at low concentrations, no odour. For this
reason, the tear gas chloropicrin is sometimes added to formulations of methyl bromide so it
can be detected more easily.
• Methyl bromide can be a killer!
Methyl bromide is very irritating to the lungs and can cause difficulty in breathing, pneumonia,
and accumulation of fluid in the lungs. These may not develop until a few hours after expo
sure.
If methyl bromide gets on your skin it can cause itching, blisters, or even severe burns.
Some survivors of methyl bromide poisoning may have permanent damage to the nervous
system resulting in personality changes, memory loss, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and
other mental problems.
For Action!
Are you exposed to methyl bromide?
How often?
Through which routes does it enter your body?
Have you experienced any of the above symptoms while
you were using this pesticide?
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 27
What are the symptoms of organochlorine
poisoning?
• Symptoms of ACUTE poisoning include:
Nausea
Agitation/Confusion
Vomiting
Muscle spasms
Headache
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Convulsions
• Symptoms of CHRONIC poisoning include the above symptoms
plus the following:
Pallour
Heart problems
Skin lesions
Liver problems
Sterility
Loss of consciousness
• Examples of organochlorines:
0
0
Aldrin
Endosulfan
Chlordane
Endrin
DDT
Heptachlor
Dieldrin
Lindane
For Action!
Are you exposed to organochlorine pesticides?
How often?
Through which routes do they enter your body?
Have you experienced any of the above symptoms while you
were using these pesticides?
page 28 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Listen to your Body!
• What to do in case of poisoning?
Most of the symptoms of pesticide poisoning are “non-specific." This means other illnesses
and conditions can cause the same symptoms. An example of a non-specific symptom is
headache, which may be due to many other causes.
If you are mildly or moderately poisoned, it may be hard to tell whether your symptoms are
from the flu, an upset stomach or other medical condition.
But if you were not sick when you got to your workplace and soon after you begin working
with pesticides you feel sick, then suspect pesticides as the cause of your illness.
If other workers using the chemicals are also feeling the same symptoms, then chances are,
the problem is pesticide poisoning.
If you are not certain about what is causing your symptoms, it is better to presume that these
are due to pesticides. You don’t want to risk severe poisoning!
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 29
• What should I do if I feel like I am being poisoned by pesticides?
First and most important, stop working with the pesticides immediately. Leave the work site!
If you think you were poisoned by absorbing the pesticide on your skin, change your clothes
and wash off the chemicals with soap and water.
Notify others - a family member, co-worker or supervisor - about your symptoms and ask
them to help you seek medical care.
If you are suffering from acute pesticide poisoning, you will need emergency medical treat
ment.
Even if you are not certain that what you are feeling is due to pesticide poisoning, play safe,
get out!
MEMCAL<ffl|
SERVICElfll
If you have access to a health worker, ask the following questions:
• Is it possible that my present illness is related to pesticide use?
• What tests can be done to determine whether my illness is caused by pesticides?
• Should I stop working with pesticides? For how long?
• Are there any medications which I should take?
• Will pesticide exposure affect my pregnancy?
Don’t forget to bring the bottle or container!
Remember to take the bottle or label of the pesticide with you so the health worker
will know the probable cause for your symptoms.
page 30 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
How does a health worker find out whether my symptoms are from
pesticide poisoning?
The health worker will need to know the following:
The name of the pesticides you worked with.
How much was taken up.
The circumstances surrounding your exposure. Mention the route of exposure (through
the skin, lungs, stomach or a combination of these) and the reason for poisoning
(intentional, accident, misuse or overexposure).
Time of exposure and how soon after exposure your symptoms started.
What your symptoms are. It will be more helpful if you could describe your symptoms
according to the order in which they first occurred.
0
Whether other co-workers have been experiencing similar problems.
If you have been using a nerve gas type of pesticide (carbamate or organophosphate),
your doctor will want to know your cholinesterase level.
Because many health workers are not trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of pesti
cide poisoning, sometimes they may give a different diagnosis or ignore your concerns en
tirely.
Do not hesitate to ask for another opinion.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 37
(S ' /sTo
■>
/
What should I do if my supervisor does not believe I am having a
problem with pesticides?
This is a common problem, and one for which there is no easy answer. Sometimes your job
and income are more important than disagreeing with your supervisor. Sometimes, supervi
sors are not aware of the toxic effects of pesticides or are more concerned with the profits
derived from your work than the health of the workers.
Just remember, you are the one who knows your body best.
Pesticides are poisons and prolonged exposure can kill!
il
1
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For Action!
Find out about occupational health and safety regulations
in your country which relate to pesticide exposure among
agricultural workers.
Find out about compensation for occupational illnesses.
page 32 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
What should I do if I splash pesticides in my eyes?
Many farmers or farm workers have been blinded by pesticides splashed in their eyes. Com
mon symptoms of pesticide poisoning in the eyes include burning sensation, watering of the
eyes and blurred vision. Very small pupils can be a sign of severe poisoning.
If you accidentally get pesticides in your eyes, do the following:
PJ
Open eyelids with your fingers and rinse your eyes immediately with running water for
at least 30 minutes. If only one eye was affected, make sure washing does not cause
contamination of the other eye.
P|
Never use eye drops! They are not antidotes to the poison and since they are used in
small amounts, they cannot wash the poison from your eyes.
P|
Go and see a health worker as soon as possible.
P|
Bring the pesticide container with you when you consult a health worker.
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What should I do if I spill pesticides on my skin?
[v7! Immediately wash the pesticide off with soap and lots of water.
[Tf Remove contaminated clothing and jewelry.
[7J Take a bath as soon as possible.
[v7! If you feel any symptoms of poisoning, see a health worker.
Pl Bring the pesticide container with you when you consult a health worker.
C-PAK: WARDING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 33
What should I do if someone swallows a pesticide?
People sometimes swallow pesticides to commit suicide. Even if it is a horrible way to die,
they use pesticides because they know these are poisonous and because these are readily
available.
Sometimes pesticides are swallowed by mistake, particularly if they have been placed in a
different container such as a beverage bottle. Sometimes curious, unsupervised children get
hold of a pesticide bottle and taste its contents.
If you see or suspect poisoning from swallowed pesticides, you can do the following to help:
Pl
Lay down the person with the head lower than the body and turned to one side to
prevent aspiration in case he or she vomits.
PI Clean the mouth of the patient with cloth or paper. Remove dentures and secretions.
Make sure your hands are not contaminated in the process. If possible, wear rubber gloves.
Pl Remove all contaminated clothing and bathe the patient with soap and water. If the eyes
are contaminated, rinse them with running water for 30 minutes.
Pl Help the person to vomit by tickling the back of the person’s throat. This should be done
especially if you know that the type of pesticide swallowed is very toxic and if professional
medical help is not readily available. To keep the person from biting your fingers, use your
other hand to force the cheek between the teeth. NEVER induce vomiting in an unconscious
or convulsing patient, or in a patient with a known heart disease. Inducing vomiting in a
woman in her late pregnancy is dangerous because this may put the foetus at risk.
PI if you are near a health care facility, it is better not to give any fluids and instead allow
medical professionals to give the patient fluids intravenously. However, if you think it will take
many hours before medical assistance will be available, and if the patient is cooperative and
conscious, let the patient drink plenty of water - several litres in the course of hours. This will
make the patient urinate more, thereby eliminating the poison faster from his or her body. DO
NOT give food. DO NOT give milk or alcohol. NEVER force an unconscious or convulsing
patient to drink.
0 Get medical help as soon as possible.
0 Bring the pesticide container or label with you.
page 34 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
If someone shows symptoms of pesticide poisoning, is there any
thing I can do?
Treatment for pesticide poisoning is best done by health professionals. However, there are
some things you can do while waiting for medical help.
0 Remove the person from the site. Be careful that you do not get the pesticides on your
own body. Wear rubber gloves if possible.
0 If there has been a spill, take off contaminated clothing and rinse the skin with soap and
water.
0 If the patient’s skin feels very warm, sponge with cool water. If the patient is very cold,
wrap him or her in a blanket.
0 If the patient is having a convulsion, you may put cloth between his or her teeth to prevent
tongue biting. Be careful in restraining the patient’s body. Do this only to prevent injury not
cause it. Holding down the limbs of a violently seizing person can cause bone fractures.
[7J If the person is not breathing, do cardio-pulmonary resuscitation if you are knowledgeable Before doing mouth-to-mouth respiration, make sure there are no traces of pesticides
in the mouth by wiping it with a clean cloth. You may also place a handkerchief between the
mouth of the patient and the mouth of the person giving first aid.
0 Ask about exposure. Know the chemicals used. Remember to bring the bottle of the
pesticide with you so you can show this to the health worker later.
0 Stay calm and reassure the patient - they can become very agitated.
are
[7j Seek medical help as quickly as possible.
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C'PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 35
The best cure for pesticide poisoning is prevention
For Action!
Go to your company clinic, the office of the nearest health
worker, or your community clinic.
Are there people who are trained to handle cases of pesti
cide poisoning?
Are drugs and equipment available for emergency care?
If there have been previous cases of poisoning, what type
of health care did the victims get?
If you are not satisfied with the quality of health care avail
able, what can you do to improve the situation?
Learn about how to protect yourself from pesticide expo
sure at work.
Learn about alternatives to pesticide use.
page 36 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
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KEEP AN EYE OUT
What Is Community-based Pesticide Monitoring?
Monitoring simply means regularly observing, looking at and recording the pesticide prob
lems we face. It also means keeping track of what people, companies and governments are
doing at the local level.
What Can Community Monitoring do?
If people understand the harmful effects of pesticides, maybe they will seek to eliminate or
reduce their use.
If you together with your community gather information about the damage to life and environ
ment caused by pesticides, it will be possible to persuade your community to eliminate pesti
cide use and look for alternatives to pesticides.
With this information, it will also be possible to persuade the government to:
> change policies with encourage the use of pesticides and
> regulate the industry more effectively.
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 37
How Can I Find Out If Pesticides Are Affecting My Community?
Community monitoring is one way to gather information on how pesticides are affecting your
community. There are many ways to monitor. Monitoring can be specific and systematic
gathering of detailed information or it could be a general and one-time information gathering
to give an overview of the situation.
Some groups have started to use questionnaires, see Annex 1 and 2 to gather information on
the pesticides used, spraying practices and health problems faced by the community.
In addition, one group has developed together with pesticide workers, daily health record
sheets (see Annex 3). The pesticide workers who spray pesticides monitor their health by
daily recording any symptoms of pesticide poisoning. These records are compiled and pro
vide valuable information.
In the Philippines, a medical monitoring of pesticide workers was started and in Malaysia, a
local group is undertaking testing of the levels of cholinesterase, an enzyme in the blood of
plantation workers.
What Can Communities Monitor?
•
When pesticide users feel sick, and what are their symptoms
•
•
How is the community exposed
What concerns you and your community regarding pesticide use
•
Have there been any pesticide poisoning incidents or deaths
•
•
What are the pesticides used
Are there any pesticides that are banned or not registered being used
•
•
Are the pesticides properly packaged and labelled
Who uses pesticides in the community and who makes the decision on what pesticides
•
to buy and use
How are pesticides sold, transported, mixed, and sprayed
•
•
How are used containers disposed
How does the pesticides industry promote and sells its products
•
Are there successful alternatives to pesticides
page 38 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Case Study: Health Impact of Pesticides on Women Pesticide
Sprayers
Women in the plantation sector in Malaysia spray pesticides almost daily. Concerned
about the health impact of pesticides on women workers, Tenaganita decided to under
take a health monitoring project among women plantation workers in Malaysia. Devel
oped in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific and the National
Poison Centre based at the University Science Malaysia, the study involved more than
100 workers. Tenaganita field workers visited plantations and over a few visits identified
the workers involved in spraying pesticides. They then discussed with them the project.
The workers were interviewed regarding their exposure to pesticides and any health symp
toms (see annex 2). This survey was supplemented by sampling for blood cholinesterase
levels. The Poison Centre compiled the results of the survey and did the blood analysis.
Workers who showed severe cholinesterase depression were given follow-up examina
tions.
The survey was undertaken in plantations in two areas of peninsular Malaysia. Approxi
mately 100 women pesticide sprayers are taking part in this survey. In a few cases, women
were found to spray while pregnant. Preliminary results showed that the women had sig
nificant depression in their levels of cholinesterase. This level returned to normal in women
who stopped spraying. Results of the survey are being shared with the sprayers.
The sprayers are now participating in a longer term self-monitoring of health symptoms
where they are recording each day what pesticide they sprayed and to indicate if they
experience any of a set of symptoms (see annex 3). This will help provide better data on
the correlation between pesticide spraying and health impacts. Tenaganita is constantly
organising training workshop for the workers to discuss impact of pesticide on their health,
their rights as workers and discussion of their problems as women workers. Tenaganita
shared the result of the study with the workers and together drafted the recommendations
that will form part of the report.
Getting overt support from the plantation management for this survey was not possible. In
several cases, some workers lost their jobs because of their involvement in the survey.
Potential loss of job was also a hindrance to agreeing to have their blood samples taken.
One of the major achievements of the project is the increased self-worth of the plantation
sprayers. For many of them, this is the first time that others are showing a serious con
cern over their health and well being. This is providing them with the courage to improve
their living and work situations.
The results of the monitoring will help provide information to the workers and is a strong
basis for the need to regularly monitor the health of plantation workers. The results will
also call for stronger regulations on pesticides and encourage government action to ad
dress the health impact of pesticide use in plantations.
C-PAK; IVAKNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 39
How Can We Start Monitoring?
Meet together.
Decide what things are most important to your community.
Decide what information your community feels they are able to gather. Usually this should
always include dates, names and the pesticide or incident (example, someone poisoned by
pesticides).
You may want to start by using a questionnaire to monitor the impact of pesticides on health,
please look at Annex 1. This questionnaire was developed and used by PAN Philippines.
Annex 2 is the questionnaire used by Tenaganita in Malaysia to gather information on the use
of pesticides by plantation workers and the impact on the health.
These questionnaires will help guide you. However, you may want to use relevant parts from
these questionnaires to formulate your own questionnaires. This may depend on the situation
of your community’s exposure to pesticides.
Daily records of health of the pesticide worker or applicator (see annex 2) is also useful.
Remember - any relevant information for example, nausea - should be recorded on the day
it happens.
Observations are also important. General information on the health of the community while
pesticides are being used should be recorded. Any unusual cases of skin rashes, or fainting
and even people suffering from cancers or women having abortions over a period of time
should be recorded with name and date of that occurrence.
page 40 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
What next?
First of all - analyse the information with your own group. See if any of it can be useful in your
advocacy with the local or national government.
Than, send your information to the organisations listed at the back. They are gathering simi
lar information from communities throughout the country and are working together with similar
groups in other countries of Asia.
If you choose to share the data with these other groups that will not be the end of it. They will
make sure your group is kept up to date on any useful findings and plans and activities.
Your group will become part of an international team!
For Action!
Get your group involved in pesticides
monitoring!
JOIN THE ASIAN CAMPAIGN!
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C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 41
Together we can make change
Your community is not alone
Groups of farmers, workers and women throughout your country and the entire Asia-Pacific
region are working together to gather information about pesticides and farm practices.
This data is being gathered and organised for each country, as well as the entire region. If we
have hundreds of reports, from different countries, with names and dates, about adverse
health effects of a pesticide, even politicians will have to listen!
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page 42 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
What Do We Hope to Accomplish?
We hope to stop pesticide poisoning from occurring. We hope that community monitoring will
contribute towards building stronger farmers groups and people’s organisations. And we will
work together to pressure for better regulations covering the manufacture, marketing and use
of pesticides.
We want to build enough information of the deadly dangers of pesticides that will be impos
sible to deny, and governments will be forced to ban or restrict these poisons.
\Ne want the pesticide industry to act responsibly by stoping the production and sales of
pesticides that have poisoned farmers, workers, people and their environment. We will work
together to ensure the industry is made accountable for its actions.
Get your group involved in pesticides monitoring!
JOIN THE ASIAN CAMPAIGN!
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C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 43
Where You Can Go for Help in Indonesia
Gita Pertiwi
Griyan Lama No.20 Rt.OIZRwl
Solo 57171, Indonesia
tel: (6271)710465;
fax: (6271)718956
email: gita@slo.mega.net.id
Yayasan Pengembangan Pedesaan
(Rural Development Foundation)
Tursari IV/25, Solo-57197
Central Java, Indonesia,
tel: (0271)711674
LSK - Bina Bakat
(Institute for Social Study and Skill
Development)
Jalan Ki Mangunsarkoro No. 79
Solo - 57136, Central Java, Indonesia
tel: (0271)718594
fax: (0271) 719770 (Wartel Manahan)
Mitra Tani Association
Jalan Nitikan Baru Nombor 95
Yogyakarta - 55162
tel/fax: (0274) 381101
Hari Pangan Sedunia
(World Food Day)
Tegalgendu KG II Rt 50/Rw XI
Yogyakarta
tel/fax: (0274) 380776
Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan
Hidup
(Environmental Education Training
Centre)
Seloliman Trawas, Mojokerto
Propinsi Jawa Timur
P.O. Box 03 Trawas Mojokerto 61375
tel: (0343) 880884
fax: (0321)618752
Where You Can Go for Help in Malaysia
Tenaganita (Women's Force)
11th Floor, Wisma Yakin
Jalan Masjid India
50100 Kuala Lumpur
tel: (603) 291-3681/291-3691
fax: (603) 291-3681
People's Service Organization
13, Taman Berjuntai,
Jalan Bukit Badong
45600 Batang Berjuntai,Selangor
tel: (603) 8719125
Pusat Racun Negara
National Poison Control Centre
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Penang
Malaysia
tel/fax: (604) 6568417
page 44 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Where You Can Go for Help in Philippines
PAN Philippines
Rm. 308 Department of Pharmacology
U.P. College of Medicine,
547 Pedro Gil St., Ermita, Manila
tel: (632) 5264248/5218251
fax: (632) 5218251
email: romyq@manila-online.net
AMIHAN
No. 61-B Evangelista Street, Project 4,
Quezon City, Philippines
tel: (632)4372173
fax: (632) 9139244
SIBAT
#10 Alley 13, Projects, Quezon City
tel: (632) 9293220
tel/fax: (632) 9291140
email: sibat@info.com.ph
OFFERS Training Center
Kisante, Makilala, North Cotabato
tel: (064-23) 81453 (thru Rose
Catedrilla)
Health Alliance for DemocracyNegros
Riverside Hospital, Bacolod City
tel: (034) 4337331 (thru Dr. Ethel
Tangarorang, Silay City)
tel: (034) 57185
Visayas Primary Health Care
Program
Rm. 203 Crestly Bldg., Osmena Blvd.,
Cebu City,
tel: (032) 2544663
ANI Foundation
Suerte Subdivision, Kidapawan City
tel: (064-23) 81665
Where Else You Can Go for Help in Asia Pacific
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP)
P.O. Box 1170,10850, Penang, Malaysia
tel: (604) 6570271/6560381
fax: (604) 6577445
email: panap@panap.po.my
homepage: http://www.poptel. org.uk/panap/
C-PAK: EARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 45
Annex:1 Community Monitoring of Pesticide Health Effects
1. Name of person affected by pesticide
2. Address
3. Age
Male
Female
4. Does the person affected own the farm he is tilling? |
_
_
Pregnant
| Yes
5. Date when the adverse effect of the pesticide happened —
6. What was the adverse effect of the pesticide? (State precisely what happened, what signs and symptoms
were experienced------------------------------------------ —-------------------7. What is the name of the pesticide?
_________
8. Was the person affected also the one who used the pesticide? Q Yes
9. Did the user wear gloves, masks or any protective clothing? Q Yes
10. How was the affected person exposed to the pesticide?
Ingestion of contaminated food
a) In spraying
d)
In wading through the water
e)
b) In mixing the pesticide
Others
c) In spreading pesticide
f)
11. What happened to the person affected by the pesticide?
a) Died
d) Brought to the hospital
b) Seriously bedridden
e) Others
c) Nothing serious happened
12. How long after exposure before the adverse effect was felt or seen?
a) Immediately after
c) one day after
b) Few hours after
d) more than 1 day after
13. How long did the adverse effect of the pesticide last?
c) one day
a) Few minutes
d) more than 1 day
b) Few hours
14. How often was the person affected exposed to pesticide?
e) rarely
a) almost daily
c) monthly
b) weekly
d) less than once a month
15. Did the person affected experience the same effects before? |
| Yes |
| No
16. Did the person affected have any disease prior to the pesticide effect?
oYes
n
No
17. If yes, what was the disease
18. Was the person affected taking medications prior to the pesticide effect?
EJ Yes Q No
19 If yes, what were the medicines being taken?
20. Was the person affected by the pesticide a smoker?
c) more than 10 sticks/day
a) No
b) 1-10 sticks/day
21. Was he a drinker of alcoholic beverages?
a) No
b) almost everyday
c) a few times/week
d) a few times a month
22. Did the person affected drink alcoholic beverage prior to the pesticide effect?
Yes
[J No
23. Are there any other things/factors that might have caused the symptoms/signs, which were perceived to be
pesticide effect?
,—,
Yes
No
24. If Yes, what?
Name of person who made this report:
Address:
Organisation:
Date when report was made:
page 46 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
Annex: 2 WOMEN CONFRONTING THE CYC1E OF POISON
Questionnaire On Pesticide Spraying In Plantations
Name :
Location :
Personal Particulars:
Sex :
Age :
Race :
Marital Status :
Occupation of Spouse :
No. of children :
Nature of work/Occupation :
Length of Service :
Salary :
Are you a : Permanent worker Q]
contract worker |
Working hours (no of hours of work): |
|
per day
|
|
migrant |
| per week
|
|
| per month
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding :
Pesticide Use
Are you a pesticide sprayer
No
Date of last exposure to pesticide :
1.
What class of pesticide used in the field :
Weedicide |
|
Insecticide P"!
Fungicides Q
Others
2.
What pesticide do you use :
Brand Name :
Common Name : .
What is it used for
How often in a year do you apply this
Do you spray throughout the year :
No
Is there a break given :
No
If there is a break for how long
C-PAK: HARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 47
What type of task are you assigned
How long after spraying are you assigned to another task
Frequency in a month
Number of hours per spray
3.
Equipment:
Method of spray (equipment used)
What was the condition of the equipment
How is it stored
Was training provided on use
4.
Protective clothings:
Was protective clothing/equipment supplied
If yes, what were they?
|
|
eye and face protection-
protective boots |
|
respiratory equipment
gloves
coveralls
aprons and coats |
|
|
Is protective clothing washed after it is used
5.
[
|
|
|
| Yes
Mixing of Pesticide:
Do you mix the pesticides before spraying
|
| Yes
No
O Yes
No
If not, who mixes
What is the pesticide mixed with
What are the quantities
Do you mix it with other pesticides
If yes what are they
What are the quantities
page 48 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
6. Effect of the Pesticide
After spraying do you suffer from:PH nausea
|
|
H tremours
giddiness
[
| lower abdominal pains
| headache
|
| vaginal pains
vomiting
|
| burning sensation during urination
|
| fatigue / tiredness
| difficulty in breathing
□
[ | tight feeling of chest
|
back pains
| itchiness / skin irritation /
|~ ] swelling of the knee joints
white patches on skin / red spots
(where on the body?)
| ] Discolouration of nails / inflammation and
irregular nails / nails dropping off
LU bleeding through the nose
|
| Others
EZJ vomiting
blurred vision
Have you been exposed to pesticides / come in contact with pesticides
Through inhalation
O Yes
□ No
On the skin
I I Yes
No
| Yes
□ No
Accidentally consumed it |
7. Medical
1.
Who do you go to when you have any of the effects of poisoning ?
2.
What treatment is given:
medicines : type : |
|
| cream
|
| drug / tablets for consumption
| liquid form
3.
Do you go for regular medical check-ups ?
4.
Where do you go for check-ups ?
5.
Who conducts the medical examination ?
6.
Is there a policy in the plantation on sending sprayers for regular check-ups ?
C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 49
ANNEX: 3
/ REKOD KESIHATAN I HEALTH RECORD
Identity Cflrd No: .
^flDLiulrnra »rnt(p stswje
__________________
No Kad Pengenalan: -------------------------------C^nuuih:
Tempat/place.:..-------------------------------------- -
^a&TT^TTTr
Name:
Quiuir:
Nama:
mujgj:
Umur:/Ag^
/ Tarikh
siCTar
Tanda - Tanda Penyakit
No
1
1
©ujl.uA
Rasa Mual
Nausea
Muntah
Vomitting
2
iDUjaaih
Pening Kepala
Dizziness
3
4
Sakit Kepala
Headache
5
^Lpft<SElfib rrgiflju)
Hidung Berdarah
Bleeding Nose
6
Susah Bernafas
'jjKA Breathing Difficulties
7
Dada Ketat
Chest Tightness
8
Sakit Belakang
Backache
rji®5>aiLb
Menggigil
Tremours
9
/
10
Ml
(yjk-i^A^rrsi) sifsiSiiD
Bengkak Lutut
Swollen Knee
page 50 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
srsivr
No
/ Tarikh
GjBfnu ^|^l@i5l«fiTr
Tanda - Tanda Penyakit
Fatigue
Gffrnrft| / awnnTuq
Penat
11
Lower Abdominal Pain
12
13
Kesakitan Bawah Perut
J]
Vaginal Pain
Glumr (ajnJhSlfib sutfSl
Sakit Faraj
14
Pain while urinating
<£lfry igfT
sriflffffsb
Pedih semasa kencing
15
Eye Itchiness
ami ^rfluLj
Gatal Mata
16
Blured Vision
inrijffisvnw umTsmsw
Kelihatan Kurang Terang
Discoloured Nails
17
18
19
20
21
Ubahan Warna Kuku
Swollen Fingers
fiiSliysuasir
Bengkak Jari
Nails Dropping Off
JB^U) fi51(Lg£6U
Kuku Tanggal
Rashes / Itchiness
QfffrnJI / ^|ffluq
Kudis / Gatal
Pain in the Joints
a_i_6\) (tpL-O ftJtfSl
Sakit Sendi Badan
C-PAK: EARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health ... page 51
07181
Community Monitoring - A Summary
What is Community-Based Pesticides
Monitoring?
• community-based pesticides monitoring means: or
dinary people involved in collecting information
on how pesticides are used and the problems they
cause.
• to do this, the people work together to observe and
record data about pesticides and the danger they
cause to people and the environment - as well as
collecting data on alternatives to pesticides.
What Can Community-Based Pesticides
Monitoring Do?
• if people understand the harm that pesticides are
doing to their health, their land and their commu
nity, maybe they will seek to eliminate or reduce
the use of pesticides.
• if communities help gather information about the
damages caused by pesticides use, it will be pos
sible to persuade the government to change poli
cies which encourage the use of pesticides and to
regulate the industry more effectively.
What Can Communities Monitor?
• when pesticide users feel sick and their symptoms.
• how the pesticides industry promotes and sells its
products.
• what pesticides are doing to the land and environ
ment.
• successful alternatives to the use of pesticides.
• what concerns you in your community regarding
pesticide use.
page 52 ... C-PAK: WARNING! Pesticides are Dangerous to your Health
C-PAK (Community-Pesticides Action Kit) is a “kit”: a series of modules on the dangers
of - and alternatives to - the use of pesticides. The kit also seeks to encourage
communities to be involved in monitoring of the adverse effects of pesticides use and
in developing awareness and to take action against pesticides.
Confront the cycle of poison!!
C-PAK is produced by an ASEAN team of NGOs:
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific
P.O. Box 1170,10850 Penang, Malaysia
Executive Director: Sarojeni V. Rengam
tel: (604)657-0271/6560381
fax: (604)657-7445
email: panap@panap.po.my
Gita Pertiwi
Griyan LamaNo.20 Rt.Ol/RwI
Solo 57171, Indonesia
Executive Director: Agus Dody Sugiartoto
tel: (6271)710465; fax: (6271)718956
email: gita@slo.mega.net. id
ANI Foundation
Suerte Subdivision, Kidapawan City
Philippines
Contact Person: Dr. Lynn Redoble
Tel: (64-23) 81665
Tenaganita
11th Floor, Wisma Yakin
Jalan Masjid India
50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Executive Director: Irene Fernandez
tel: (603)2913691 /2913681
fax: (603)2913681
email: mindcaram@hotmail.com
PAN Philippines
Rm. 308 Department of Pharmacology
U.P. College of Medicine
547 Pedro Gil St., Ermita, Manila
Philippines
Coordinator: Dr. Romy Quijano
tel: (632) 5328251/5264248
fax: (632) 5328251
email: romyq@manila-online.net
E
Confront the cycle of poison in your community!
Take action to better your community!
- Media
7181.pdf
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