Introduction
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to protect crops and reduce losses. They help secure food supplies and control disease vectors. Yet, the health effects of pesticides are a growing concern worldwide. These chemicals can harm people, animals, and ecosystems when misused or over-applied.
The One Health approach, which emphasizes the links between human, animal, and environmental health, provides a useful framework for understanding these risks.
But what exactly are the health effects of pesticides, and how can societies reduce them while ensuring food security? [1]
Types of Pesticides and Their Risks
Different pesticides carry different risks:
- Organophosphates: Cause acute poisoning by inhibiting
acetylcholinesterase. - Neonicotinoids: Harm bees and pollinators, disrupting ecosystems.
- Carbamates: Linked to neurological and developmental problems.
- Pyrethroids: Safer for humans but toxic to aquatic organisms.
- Glyphosate: A widely used herbicide associated with endocrine disruption and possible cancer risks [1].
Why the Health Effects of Pesticides Matter
Research links pesticides to both acute and chronic health problems.
- Acute exposure can cause nausea, dizziness, skin irritation, or respiratory distress. Severe poisoning may be life-threatening.
- Chronic exposure is linked to cancer, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, hormone disruption, and developmental delays in children [1,2].
Children, pregnant women, and farmworkers are especially vulnerable. This makes pesticide safety a public health priority.
Pesticide Exposure Pathways
Humans are exposed to pesticides through food, water, air, and occupational contact.
- Food residues: Fruits and vegetables often carry residues, creating cumulative risks [2].
- Occupational exposure: Farmers and applicators face the greatest danger through direct handling.
- Water contamination: Runoff pollutes rivers and groundwater, affecting communities [2].
- Airborne drift: Spraying can spread to nearby schools and homes.
Animal Health and Ecosystem Impacts
The health effects of pesticides extend beyond humans.
- Pollinators: Neonicotinoids affect bees’ navigation, reproduction, and survival. Their decline threatens food security since 75% of crops rely on pollination.
- Aquatic life: Pyrethroids and neonicotinoids enter rivers and lakes, harming fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates.
- Wildlife and livestock: Organophosphates affect mammals and birds, reducing fertility and survival rates [1].
These disruptions weaken ecosystems and reduce biodiversity.
Environmental Impacts
Pesticides also degrade the environment:
- Soil health: Herbicides like glyphosate disrupt beneficial soil microbes, reducing fertility.
- Water contamination: Runoff introduces pesticides into groundwater and surface waters.
- Air pollution: Spray drift exposes nearby communities and habitats [1].
These environmental impacts eventually circle back to human health.
Monitoring and Regulation
Monitoring systems are critical in reducing the health effects of pesticides.
- Biomonitoring: Blood, urine, and tissue tests detect exposure in humans and animals.
- Environmental monitoring: Residues in soil, water, and air reveal contamination levels.
- Remote sensing: Satellites and drones help track pesticide use and drift [1].
Several regions provide useful examples. The European Union banned most neonicotinoids to protect pollinators. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to reassess glyphosate, reviewing new data on carcinogenicity and environmental safety [3]. In low- and middle-income countries, where monitoring resources are limited, strengthening surveillance remains a global health priority.
Safer Alternatives
Reducing reliance on harmful pesticides requires integrated approaches:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combines biological controls, crop rotation, and selective pesticide use.
- Biopesticides: Natural alternatives from fungi, bacteria, or plants.
- Precision agriculture: Uses sensors and drones to apply pesticides more efficiently.
- Protective measures: Training and equipment protect farmworkers [2].
These solutions lower exposure while keeping agriculture productive.
A One Health Perspective
The One Health approach highlights the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. Pesticides contaminate soil, water, and food chains, affecting all species. By applying One Health principles, policymakers and farmers can design systems that protect ecosystems and safeguard human health [4].
Conclusion
The health effects of pesticides demonstrate the urgent need for balance. While pesticides remain essential to protect crops and ensure food security, their overuse and mismanagement endanger people, animals, and ecosystems.
Solutions already exist: stronger regulation, safer alternatives, and innovative technologies can reduce dependency. The One Health approach adds value by addressing human, animal, and environmental risks together.
Ultimately, protecting global food systems requires more than pesticides. It demands sustainable farming practices, effective governance, and public awareness. By reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals, we can safeguard health, preserve biodiversity, and ensure that agriculture supports—not undermines—the well-being of future generations.
References
- Mostafalou, S. and Abdollahi, M. (2017) ‘Pesticides: an update of human exposure and toxicity’, Archives of Toxicology, 91(2), pp. 549–599. doi:10.1007/s00204-016-1849-x.
- Damalas, C.A. and Eleftherohorinos, I.G. (2011) ‘Pesticide exposure, safety issues, and risk assessment indicators’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(5), pp. 1402–1419. doi:10.3390/ijerph8051402.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (2017) Some Organophosphate Insecticides and Herbicides: Glyphosate. IARC Monographs, Vol. 112. Lyon: IARC. Available at: https://publications.iarc.fr/549
- Lerner, H. and Berg, C. (2017) ‘A comparison of three holistic approaches to health: One Health, EcoHealth, and Planetary Health’, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 4, 163. doi:10.3389/fvets.2017.00163.
