Illness, injuries, and deaths from pesticide exposures in California, 1949-1988.
1990
Maddy K.T. | Edmiston S. | Richmond D.
Data on human acute illness/injury and death associated with pesticide exposure in California for the 40/ry period, beginning with 1949, were reviewed. Even though California has better data of this type than most government jurisdictions in the world, there are some shortcomings. In the early part of this period, nonoccupational data were scant because poison information centers were just being developed. Also in the early period, many occupational exposures were not recorded in state statistics although a good system to allow for such reporting was in place. California data currently available still do not take into account (1) persons who are exposed and become ill, but do not visit a physician or call a poison center, and (2) most occupational exposures of the self-employed, U.S. military employees, U.S. governmen employees, maritime workers, and interstate railroad workers. In 1987, 268,092,595 kg of pesticides were sold and estimated as used in the state. Although the amount of pesticides used annually in California is estimated to have increased 4-fold in this 40-yr period, it is believed that the actual number of pesticide-related occupational illnesses/yr increased very little. Cholinesterase inhibitors and methyl bromide were most often involved in the more serious occupational systemic poisonings throughout the time period. Well-educated and trained farmers and other pesticide handlers as well as a strict regulatory system have contributed to keeping the number and the extent of pesticide exposure in check, considering the widespread use of pesticides, some of which are quite toxic and potentiallly hazardous if misused.
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