Occupational Pesticide Exposures and Respiratory Health

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Ming Ye¹  Jeremy Beach¹  Jonathan W. Martin² 

[1] School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-276 Edmonton Heath Clinic Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada; E-Mail:;Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 10-102C Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada; E-Mail:

关键词: asthma;    COPD;    lung function;    occupational;    pesticide exposures;    respiratory health;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph10126442

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Pesticides have been widely used to control pest and pest-related diseases in agriculture, fishery, forestry and the food industry. In this review, we identify a number of respiratory symptoms and diseases that have been associated with occupational pesticide exposures. Impaired lung function has also been observed among people occupationally exposed to pesticides. There was strong evidence for an association between occupational pesticide exposure and asthma, especially in agricultural occupations. In addition, we found suggestive evidence for a link between occupational pesticide exposure and chronic bronchitis or COPD. There was inconclusive evidence for the association between occupational pesticide exposure and lung cancer. Better control of pesticide uses and enforcement of safety behaviors, such as using personal protection equipment (PPE) in the workplace, are critical for reducing the risk of developing pesticide-related symptoms and diseases. Educational training programs focusing on basic safety precautions and proper uses of personal protection equipment (PPE) are possible interventions that could be used to control the respiratory diseases associated with pesticide exposure in occupational setting.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.