Certain toxic pesticides
used in many school districts throughout California have been associated with
serious diseases such as leukemia (cancer of white blood cells) and lymphoma
(tumors in the lymph glands). Extensive studies have shown the following links
between pesticides and leukemia and lymphoma:
•
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL)
incidence has been increasing by 3 to 4 percent per year. 1
•
NHL-associated chemicals
include phenoxy herbicides, DDT, and organophosphate pesticides. 2
•
Female teachers, compared
to other women of the same age and race in California, have a:
•
51 percent higher rate of
lymphoma
•
28 percent higher rate of
leukemia 3
•
Risk of childhood leukemia
increased more than six times when garden pesticides were used at least once
per month. 4
In 2002, 11 of 15 surveyed
school districts in California planned to use pesticides containing chlorpyrifos
or diazinon.
| Active
Ingredient: |
Chlorpyrifos |
Diazinon |
| Chemical
class: |
Organophosphate |
Organophosphate |
| Acute
symptoms: |
Headaches, dizziness,
mental confusion, inability to concentrate, blurred vision, vomiting, stomach
cramps, uncontrolled urination, diarrhea, seizures,5
birth defects and multiple chemical sensitivity. 6 |
Headaches, muscle twitching,
tremor, muscle weakness, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness,
blurred vision, wheezing, coughing and pulmonary edema (swelling in the
lungs). 7 |
| Long
term effects: |
Organophosphate-induced
delayed neuropathy, resulting in weakness or paralysis of the extremities.8 |
Increased risk of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma 9 |
| Persistence: |
"Chlorpyrifos
can persist up to eight years after application." 10 |
"Diazinon can
persist indoors for as long as 42 days after application." 11 |
Sources
1 S.S. Devesa and T. Fears, "Non-Hodgkin's lymhoma time trends: United
States and international data," Cancer Res 52 (1992 Suppl 19): 5432s-40s.
2 S.H. Zahm, D.D. Weisenburger, R.C. Saal, et al., "The role of agricultural
pesticide use in the development of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in women," Arch
Env Hlth 48 (1993)5:353-58.
3 Study conducted by University of Southern California, UC Irvine, the Public
Health Institute, Northern California Cancer Center, and Department of Health
Services
4 Lowengart, R. et al., "Childhood Leukemia and Parents' Occupational and
Home Exposures," JNCI, July 1987, 39-46.
5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Recognition and Management of Pesticide
Poisonings, 5th ed., EPA 735-R-98-003, 1999, 34.
6 A. Donnay, Researchers Link Common Household Insecticide with Serious Birth
Defects and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Press Release, 20 November 1996,
Baltimore, MD.
7 U.S. EPA, Recognition, 34, 38.
8 U.S. EPA, Recognition, 34.
9 Zahm, S. "A case control stud y of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and agricultural
factors in Eastern Nebraska," Am. J. Epidemiol. 128 (1988):90.
10Cox. "Chloryrifos," citing Wright et al., "Chlorpyrifos in
the air and soil of houses eight years after its application for termite control,"
Bull. Env. Contam. Toxicol. 52 (1994):131-34.
11 Cox, "Diazinon," 31, citing G. Wright et al., "Chlorpyrifos
and diazinon detections on surfaces of dormitory rooms," Bull. Env. Contam.
Toxicol. 32 (1984):259-64.
