Problem: Human Toxicity of Pesticides

The compounds used in pesticides are frequently toxic to humans. Pesticides ingested, aspirated, or absorbed through the skin can cause harmful allergic reactions. Organophosphates and carbamates, two common forms of insecticide, inhibit the production of the enzyme cholinesterase, important for controlling the function of the nervous system. Additionally, the class of pesticides known as bipyridyls cause severe lung tissue damage along with kidney and liver problems. Total recovery after exposure to pesticides may not occur (Hetzel, 1996).