Pesticides

Pesticides pes•ti•cide (pĕs'tĭ-sīd')
n. (plural)
Pesticides are a group of chemicals designed to control weeds, diseases, insects, fungi or other pests on crops, landscape or animals. Insecticides are the most commonly used forms for these chemicals.

These are commonly linked with consumption of these chemicals.
- cancer
- fertility problems
- brain tumor
- childhood leukemia
- non - hodgkins lymphoma
- birth defects
- irritation to the skin and eyes
- hormone endocrine problems
- nervous system damage

Reducing pesticide risk –
- select produce free of dirt, cuts, insect holes or any other signs of spoilage/
- wash thoroughly and try eating a variety of foods, keeping the amounts of each pesticide lower.


Application and health effects of pesticides commonly used in India

S.No. Pesticide Name What it is used for Health impacts

1. DDT Effective against wide variety of insects, including domestic insects and mosquitoes
Chronic liver damage cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, endocrine and reproductive disorders, immuno
suppression, cytogenic effects, breast cancer, Non hodkins lymphoma, polyneuritis.
2. Endosulfan It is used as a broad spectrum non systemic, contact and stomach insecticide,
and acaricide against insect pests on various crops Effects kidneys, developing foetus, and liver
Immuno-suppression, decrease in the quality of semen, increase in testicular and prostate cancer, increase
in defects in male sex organs, and increased incidence of breast cancer. It is also mutatagenic
3. Aldrin Effective against wireworms and to control termites Lung cancer, liver diseases
4. Dieldrin Used against ectoparasites such as blowflies, ticks, lice and widely employed in
cattle and sheep dips. Also used to protect fabrics from moths, beetles and against carrot and cabbage
root flies/ Also used as seed dressing against wheat and bulbfly Liver diseases, Parkinson's &
Alzheimer's diseases
5. Heptachlor It controls soil inhibiting pests. Reproductive disorders, blood dyscariasis
6. Chlordane It is a contact, stomach and respiratory poison suitable for the control of soil
pests, white grubs and termites. Reproductive disorders, blood dyscariasis, brain cancer, Non
Hodkins lymphoma
7. Lindane It is used against sucking and biting pest and as smoke for control of pests in
grain sores. It is used as dust to control various soil pests.such as flea beetles and mushroom flies. It
is effective as soil dressing against the attack of soil insects Chronic liver damage-cirrhosis and
chronic hepatitis, endocrine and reproductive disorders, allergic dermatitis, breast cancer, Non hodkins
lymphoma, polyneuritis.
8. Fenitrothion It is a broad spectrum contact insecticide effective for the control of chewing
and sucking pests- locusts aphids, caterpillars and leaf hoppers. It is also used against domestic
insects and mosquitoes Human epidemiological evidence indicates fenitrothion causes eye effects
such as retinal degeneration and myopia. Chronic exposure to Fenitrothion can cause frontal
lobe impairment. Organo-phosphates are suspected of causing neurologic deficits.
9. Fenthion It is a persistent contact insecticide valuable against fruitflies, leaf hoppers, cereal
bugs, and weaverbirds in the tropics Fenthion may be mutagenic: causing genetic aberrations.
It may be a carcinogen
10. Parathion A contact insecticide and acaricide with some fumigant action. Very effective
against soil insects with high mammalian toxicity Parathion is a possible carcinogen
11. Profenofos Used for control of important cotton and vegetable pests. Used against chewing
and sucking insects and mites, cotton bollworms, aphids, cabbage looper and thrips Cholinesterase
inhibition and the associated neurological and neuromuscular effects
12. Phorate A systemic and contact insecticide employed for the control of aphids, carrot
fly, fruit fly and wireworm in potatoes Cholinesterase inhibition and the associated neurological
and neuromuscular effects
13. Malathion Widely used insecticide and acaricide used for the control of aphids thrips, red
spider mites, leafhoppers and thrips Malathion and its oxygen analog malaoxon are both quite
carcinogenic and have been linked with increased incidence of leukemia in mammals. Chronic
health effects include: suspected mutagen and teratogen, delayed neurotoxin, allergic reactions, behavioral
effects, ulcers, eye damage, abnormal brain waves and immuno-suppression
14. Monocrotofos A powerful contact and systemic insecticide and acaricide with a broad
spectrum of activity used to control pests on crops like cotton, rice, soyabean, maize, coffee, citrus
and potatoes Monocrotophos has also been shown to cause delayed neuropathy
15. Dimethoate. A systemic and contact insecticide and acaricide, effective against red spider
mites and thrips on most agricultural and horticultural crops Dimethoate might have carcinogenicity,
birth defects, reproductive toxicity and mutagenic effects
16. Chlorpyrifos A broad spectrum insecticide used against mosquitoes, fly larvae, cabbage
root fly, aphids, codling and wintermoths on fruit trees. It is also used in homes, restaurants against
cockroaches and other domestic pests. It is also used for the control of termites Chlorpyrifos has
chronic neurobehavioral effects like persistent headaches, blurred vision, unusual fatigue or muscle
weakness, and problems with mental function including memory, concentration, depression, and irritability.
17. Diazinon A contact insecticide effective against a number of soil, fruit, vegetable and
rice pests e.g. cabbage root, carrot and mushroom flies, aphids, spidermites, thrips and scale insects
domestic pests and livestock pests Non Hodkins lymphoma
18. Quinalphos A broad spectrum contact and systemic insecticides applied as a spray to control
pests in cereals, brassicas and other vegetables Anti-choline esterase
19. Triazophos Used against flies and insect pests of cerealos, maize, oilseed rape, brassicas,
carrots, weevils in peas and cut worms in potatoes and other crops Anti choline esterase
20. Ethion Used for the control of aphids and mites Impaired memory and concentration, disorientation,
severe depression, irritability, confusion, headache, speech difficulties, delayed reaction
times, nightmares, sleepwalking, and drowsiness or insomnia. An influenza-like condition with
headache, nausea, weakness, loss of appetite, and malaise
21. Acephate It is a systemic insecticide effective against chewing and sucking pests. It
is a possible human carcinogen and evidence of mutagenic effects and reproductive toxicity.
22. Fenvalerate It act contact and stomach poison. It controls the pests on crops of cotton, vegetables
and fruits. Reduction in weight.
23. Permethrin It is a stomach and contact insecticide effective against broad range of pests of
cotton, fruit and vegetable crops. Health risks found include genetic damage - cancer potential -
neurotoxic dangers to unborn children - and harm to marine life.
24. Cypermethrin It is a stomach and contact insecticide effective against broad range of
pests of cotton, fruit and vegetable crops. Cypermethrin is a possible human carcinogen.
25. Deltamethrin It is a potent insecticide effective as a contact and stomach poison against broad
range of pests of cotton, fruit and vegetable crops and store products. Potential endocrine disrupter
26. Carbaryl It is a contact insecticide and fruit thinner with a broad spectrum of activity effective
against many pests of fruits, vegetables and cotton. It is also used to control earthworms and
leather jackets in turf. Carbaryl may cause mutations (genetic changes) in living cells. It is a
possible teratogen & may damage the kidneys and nervous systems. Within the stomach produces
N-nitrocarbaryl, a well known carcinogen, Non-hodkins Lymphoma, brain cancer.
27. Carbofuran It is a broad spectrum systemic insecticide, acaricide and nematicide used
against insects, mites and incorporated in soil for control of soil insects and nematodes. Carbofuran
causes cholinesterase inhibition in both humans and animals, affecting nervous system function.
28. Aldicab It is a systemic insecticide, acaricide and nematicide which is formulated as
granules for soil incorporation. It is effective for control of aphids, nematodes,flea beetles, leaf miners,
thrips and white flies on a wide range of crops. Aldicarb is a cholinesterase inhibitor and so
can result in a variety of symptoms including weakness, blurred vision, headache, nausea, tearing,
sweating, and tremors.
29. Methomyl It is used as a soil and seed systemic insecticide applied as a foliar spray to control
aphids. Inhibition of cholinesterase, resulting in flu-like symptoms, such as weakness, lack of
appetite, and muscle aches.
30. 2, 4-D It is a selective systemic post emergence herbicide used for the control of many annual
broadleaf weeds in cereals, sugarcane and plantation crops. Twofold excess of all cancers
in Swedish railway workers, Non Hodkins Lymphoma
31. Butachlor It controls annual grasses and some broad leaved weeds in transplant and direct
seeded rice. It is applied as pre-emergence in EC formulations and as early post emergence in the
form of granules. Weight loss, weight changes in internal organs, reduced brain size together with
lesions.
32. Paraquat It is used as a plant dessicant effective against grasses. Parkinson's & Alzheimer's
diseases.
33. Simazine &Atrazine It is a persistent soil acting herbicide which in high concentrations acts
as total weed killer and in lower concentrations is used for selective control of germinating weeds
in a variety of crops - maize, sugarcane, pineapple, sorghum. It is also used for long term control of
annual grass and broad-leaved weeds in crops like citrus, coffee, tea and cocoa. Cancer of testes
34. Glyphosate It is a potent non-selective post emergence herbicide which kills mono and
dicotyledonous annual and perennial weeds No adverse effects.
35. Isoproturon It is used to control annual grass weeds in wheat rye and barley. Isoproturon
appears to be a tumour promoter rather than a complete carcinogen.
36. Trifluralin It is used for the control of annual grasses and broad leaved weeds in a wide
range of crops cotton, groundnuts, soyabeans, brassica, beans an cereals. Prolonged or repeated
skin contact with trifluralin may cause allergic dermatitis . Other effects include decreased red blood
cell counts and increases in methemoglobin, total serum lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol. It has
been shown to cause liver and kidney damage in other studies of chronic oral exposure in animals .
37. Mancozeb It is a protective fungicide, effective against a wide range of foliage disease.
Ethylenethiourea (ETU) in the course of mancozeb metabolism and production has the potential to
cause goiter, a condition in which the thyroid gland is enlarged, this metabolite has produced birth
defects and cancer in experimental animals
38. Captan It is a foliage fungicide with protective action . It is mainly used for seed treatment
and soil fungicide. Captan is a possible carcinogen and mutagen
39. Captafol It is a protective, wide spectrum foliage and soil fungicide. Captafol has
oncogenic potential (potential to cause cancer)
40. Carbendazim It is a systemic fungicide which controls wide range of pathogens of cereals ,
fruits, grapes ornamentals and vegetables. It is very effective against leaf and ear disease of wheat.
It disrupts the production of sperm and damages testicular development in adult rats. Carbendazim
is also a teratogen ¬ damaging development of mammals in the womb.


• ITRC has found heavy metals in all the
major rivers of India.

 Food commodities :51% contaminated with
pesticide residues, 20% above MRL. (ICMR)
 Farmgate vegetables: 55.1% contaminated, 9.5%
over MRL (IARI)
 Infant milk: arsenic, cadmium.lead, copper, zinc
detected in 50 to 100% samples. Arsenic and
cadmium 8 times ADI. (ICMR)
 Canned fruits: arsenic, cadmium in 15 –32%
samples. Lead, copper, zinc and tin in 81 to 100 %
samples. Lead exceed PFA limits in 4.5% and tin in
2.3%.
 Bovine milk: BHC and DDT detected in over 85%
samples, with 21-48% above tolerance limits.