Blog 18
1. I've always been aware that we should wash fruit and vegetables before eating them, but I wasn't aware about the extent of which pesticides leave residual after washing and scrubbing. I also didn't realize the extent of the number of pesticides that are used in fruits and vegetables, and when I looked up pesticides used for blueberries, there were at least ten listed. The recommendations for washing vs. peeling stated that it's better to not peel fruits and vegetables as the skin is where much of the fiber is in the produce.
In terms of public health, educating the public on the amount of pesticides used, the fact that it's impossible to get rid of them after their use because they go into the fruit or vegetable itself, as well as the fact that the majority of people exposed to pesticides are migrant farmworkers who experience health disparities because of that exposure should all be made clear to the public. The social justice implications of pesticide use towards the environment, vulnerable workers, and vulnerable patients should all be made more clear. Testimonies of farmworkers who had no choice but to be exposed to pesticides should be made very public - as this is an important social justice issue that is often overlooked.
2. I would not let my child play in a playground that had recently been sprayed with pesticides. I would also discourage other parents in the area from letting their kids play there, educating on the impact of pesticides on their children's development.
3. Pesticide poisoning would be difficult to identify as a provider because the s/s are so vague and could be a huge spectrum of things. Taking a thorough history, including if the person is a farmworker and exposed to high levels of exposure, is important. There's also such a variety of pesticides that can cause different issues that it's important to be aware of the range of symptoms - for example, if something affects cholinesterase, which can lead to excess Acetylcholine, can lead to salivation, lacrimation, emesis, bronchospasm, etc. There's also the chronic vs acute toxicity.
Environmental Health News:
I read an article about a family whose child grew up in a city and developed asthma. The mother noticed that when the family went on vacation outside of the city, the child would stop coughing. The family decided to move out of the city and the child's asthma improved significantly, due to reduced pollution and particulate levels.
In terms of public health, educating the public on the amount of pesticides used, the fact that it's impossible to get rid of them after their use because they go into the fruit or vegetable itself, as well as the fact that the majority of people exposed to pesticides are migrant farmworkers who experience health disparities because of that exposure should all be made clear to the public. The social justice implications of pesticide use towards the environment, vulnerable workers, and vulnerable patients should all be made more clear. Testimonies of farmworkers who had no choice but to be exposed to pesticides should be made very public - as this is an important social justice issue that is often overlooked.
2. I would not let my child play in a playground that had recently been sprayed with pesticides. I would also discourage other parents in the area from letting their kids play there, educating on the impact of pesticides on their children's development.
3. Pesticide poisoning would be difficult to identify as a provider because the s/s are so vague and could be a huge spectrum of things. Taking a thorough history, including if the person is a farmworker and exposed to high levels of exposure, is important. There's also such a variety of pesticides that can cause different issues that it's important to be aware of the range of symptoms - for example, if something affects cholinesterase, which can lead to excess Acetylcholine, can lead to salivation, lacrimation, emesis, bronchospasm, etc. There's also the chronic vs acute toxicity.
Environmental Health News:
I read an article about a family whose child grew up in a city and developed asthma. The mother noticed that when the family went on vacation outside of the city, the child would stop coughing. The family decided to move out of the city and the child's asthma improved significantly, due to reduced pollution and particulate levels.
Hi Kathleen, yes I agree that pesticide toxicity is difficult to diagnose. When you think about it, it's the farmworkers who are the ones with the greatest burden because not only do they ingest pesticides from food sources, but they also are in direct contact with pesticides and often in close proximity. There are many pediatric patients from the Central Valley at the unit where I work, congenital cardiac unit at UCSF Children's Hospital. Many of us nurses pretty much acknowledge that these kids and their parents (some working in agriculture) likely are affected by pesticide exposure.
ReplyDelete