Division of Disease Control and Health Protection

What are pesticide-related chronic effects?

Chronic effects are any harmful effects that occur from repeated exposures to small doses of pesticides over an extended period of time. The chronic effects of a pesticide are determined by observing symptoms of test animals, resulting from long-term exposure to the active ingredients. Some chronic effects from exposure to certain pesticides include birth defects; cancers; blood disorders; neurological problems; and reproductive effects. The chronic effects of a pesticide are more difficult to determine through laboratory analysis than acute effects. For specific information on the chronic symptoms relating to pesticide exposure, read the product's Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or the toxicological profiles or frequently asked questions (TOXFAQs) on the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) website http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/.

How can I prevent pesticide exposure?

1. Find out about the risk factors associated with pesticide exposures.
2. If pesticide exposure is a risk, avoid contact with pesticides in the home and at the workplace:

• Do not apply pesticides without first reading the label.
• Do not enter areas where pesticides are being applied or were recently applied.
• Do not reuse pesticide containers for storage of food or beverages.
• Do not eat fruits and vegetables from the fields where pesticides were applied before washing them thoroughly.
• Do not wear soiled work/field clothing outside of work or at home.
• Do not launder soiled work/field clothing with the family clothing.
• Do not handle soiled work/field clothing or work/farm tools that may contain pesticide residues without first protecting yourself.

What should I do if I was exposed to pesticides?

1. Visit your health care provider if you are ill or injured:

• Report all incidents of pesticide exposure to your doctor.
• Request biological tests to determine if you were exposed to pesticides.
• Seek medical care for illness and injury associated with pesticides.

Additional resources

1. For chronic effects of specific pesticides, visit the EXTOXNET website: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/index.html
2. For general safety tips when handling pesticides, visit the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/pest_ti.htm
3. For information on chronic diseases, visit the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/chronicdisease/
4. For information on chronic disease surveillance, visit the DOH Chronic Diseases Epidemiology Surveillance and Evaluation website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/Chronic_Disease/Chronic_Disease.htm
5. For information on birth defects, visit the DOH Birth Defect Registry website