• What are pesticides?What are pesticides?• Why are children at greater Why are children at greater

risk of pesticide exposure? risk of pesticide exposure? • How do pesticides affect farm How do pesticides affect farm

workers?workers?• How do pesticides affect How do pesticides affect

animals?animals?

What are pesticides?What are pesticides?

• Pesticide is a chemical substance Pesticide is a chemical substance used to prevent, destroyed or kill used to prevent, destroyed or kill pests, which are living organisms, pests, which are living organisms, like insects, bacteria and some like insects, bacteria and some viruses that cause damage to viruses that cause damage to humans, animals and crops. humans, animals and crops.

• Because pesticides affect living Because pesticides affect living organisms, they can also cause organisms, they can also cause harm to humans, animals and the harm to humans, animals and the

environment.environment.

Why are children at greater Why are children at greater risk of pesticide exposure? risk of pesticide exposure?

• They are several reasons why children may be at greater risk They are several reasons why children may be at greater risk from exposure to pesticides. from exposure to pesticides.

• Children cannot identify or protect themselves from hazardous Children cannot identify or protect themselves from hazardous materials in the house or outdoors. materials in the house or outdoors.

• Therefore, children can be exposed to pesticides in the air, Therefore, children can be exposed to pesticides in the air, through direct contact with plants, objects that we have at through direct contact with plants, objects that we have at home or if they are playing in the fields that have been treated home or if they are playing in the fields that have been treated with pesticides. with pesticides.

How can pesticides affect How can pesticides affect children’s health?children’s health?

• Children’s organ systems are still in development and can be damaged by Children’s organ systems are still in development and can be damaged by exposure to toxic substances more easily than adults.exposure to toxic substances more easily than adults.

• The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide, some can The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide, some can affect the nervous system or others can irritate the skin and eyes. affect the nervous system or others can irritate the skin and eyes.

• A number of research studies have found higher instances of brain cancer, A number of research studies have found higher instances of brain cancer, leukemia and birth defects in children with early exposure to pesticides.leukemia and birth defects in children with early exposure to pesticides.

• You can reduce your child’s exposure to pesticides if you reduce the need You can reduce your child’s exposure to pesticides if you reduce the need to use pesticides at home.to use pesticides at home.

• Ensure that pesticides products are stored in safe containers where children Ensure that pesticides products are stored in safe containers where children do not have access to them.do not have access to them.

• Show your children signs of danger.Show your children signs of danger.

How do pesticides affect How do pesticides affect farm workers?farm workers?

• Children of farm workers are Children of farm workers are more likely to develop health more likely to develop health problems because their parents problems because their parents working in the fields are being working in the fields are being exposed to pesticides. exposed to pesticides.

• What farm worker parents can do What farm worker parents can do to protect their families especially to protect their families especially their children is to take a shower their children is to take a shower before hugging their children and before hugging their children and to remove their hats and shoes to remove their hats and shoes before coming inside their homes.before coming inside their homes.

• Child of farm workers, born with Child of farm workers, born with birth defects from being exposed birth defects from being exposed to pesticides.to pesticides.

How do pesticides affect How do pesticides affect farm workers?farm workers?

• Farm workers are expose to some of the most dangerous pesticides every Farm workers are expose to some of the most dangerous pesticides every day because pesticides are heavily used in fields.day because pesticides are heavily used in fields.

• Many farmers use a variety of methods to fight pests including applying Many farmers use a variety of methods to fight pests including applying pesticides, but this can also bring health problems to workers. pesticides, but this can also bring health problems to workers.

• Some health problems that farm workers have if they have been exposed to Some health problems that farm workers have if they have been exposed to pesticides include, irritation in the eyes and skin.  Effects on internal pesticides include, irritation in the eyes and skin.  Effects on internal organs can occur if a sufficient amount of pesticide is absorbed from the organs can occur if a sufficient amount of pesticide is absorbed from the lungs, or mouth, but it may be possible to have long term effects from one lungs, or mouth, but it may be possible to have long term effects from one than more time of being expose to pesticides. than more time of being expose to pesticides.

• Some farm workers who believe they have been exposed to pesticides are Some farm workers who believe they have been exposed to pesticides are not likely to seek health care because they don’t have insurance in their not likely to seek health care because they don’t have insurance in their jobs and cannot afford to see a doctor. Therefore, later in life they jobs and cannot afford to see a doctor. Therefore, later in life they developed serious health problems in their nervous system. developed serious health problems in their nervous system.

Should farm workers have better protection against pesticides?Should farm workers have better protection against pesticides?94.6%94.6%Yes. Farm workers deserves a high level of safetyYes. Farm workers deserves a high level of safety

2.9%2.9%No. Agriculture is inherently different from industryNo. Agriculture is inherently different from industry

Pesticides kills animalsPesticides kills animals• The use pesticides continues to be questioned by health and environ mental The use pesticides continues to be questioned by health and environ mental

specialists who are concerned about the chemicals' effects on the specialists who are concerned about the chemicals' effects on the environment and human health. Not only do these chemicals affect people, environment and human health. Not only do these chemicals affect people, but they also kill animals and birds. but they also kill animals and birds.

How do pesticides affect How do pesticides affect animals?animals?

• Pesticides affect some animals because they can become poisoned by Pesticides affect some animals because they can become poisoned by eating other animals that have been exposed to pesticides. eating other animals that have been exposed to pesticides.

• Many people feed and provide water for birds in their backyards, but the Many people feed and provide water for birds in their backyards, but the levels of pesticides in water may reach high enough levels to cause levels of pesticides in water may reach high enough levels to cause problems. They are many ways that pesticides can get into your water like problems. They are many ways that pesticides can get into your water like surface water runoff can carry pesticides from areas such as agricultural surface water runoff can carry pesticides from areas such as agricultural fields. fields.

• Birds can die within an hour of being exposed to pesticides. Birds can die within an hour of being exposed to pesticides.

• Pesticides likely poison an estimated 67 million birds per year according to Pesticides likely poison an estimated 67 million birds per year according to the Smithsonian Institution. the Smithsonian Institution.

Gloria Esquivel

Chemistry 2A