Pesticide exposure link to ME/CFS: Difference between revisions
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Pesticides are chemicals that control pests. Pesticides include insecticides (which control insects) and herbicides (which control weeds). The main classes of insecticides are: [[Organophosphate|organophosphates]], carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids and organochlorines. | |||
== Pesticide link to ME/CFS == | |||
In one study, Scottish sheep farmers using organophosphate-based sheep dip to protect their sheep against parasites were found to suffer much higher rates of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): the prevalence of ME/CFS in these farmers was 4 times the national UK average, implicating organophosphates as a probable causal factor in ME/CFS.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/383003.stm|title=Health | |||
Report raises sheep dip health fears|last=|first=|date=1999|work=BBC News|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|quote=Two years ago 60 sheep dippers in the Western Isles were found to be suffering from the chronic fatigue syndrome ME - four times the national average. Farmers who say exposure to the dips has affected their health complain of symptoms including excessive tiredness, headaches, limb pains, disturbed sleep, poor concentration, mood changes, and thoughts of suicide.|author-link=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/906592.stm|title=Inquiry into sheep dip 'sickness'|last=|first=|date=2000|work=BBC News|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|quote=|author-link=}}</ref> | |||
Across the UK, at least 500 farmers were left with debilitating health problems after using organophosphate sheep dip, and the [[Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar|Countess of Mar]], a life peer in the House of Lords who developed ME/CFS after coming into contact with sheep dip on her farm, has spent the past decades campaigning on the organophosphate issue .<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/20/revealed-government-knew-of-farm-poisoning-risk-but-failed-to-act|title=Revealed: government knew of farm poisoning risk but failed to act|last=|first=|date=2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|quote=|author-link=}}</ref> | |||
ME/CFS researcher Professor [[Peter Behan]] studied the organophosphate link to ME/CFS, and talks about it in [https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12076750.Symptoms_of_a_wider_malaise/ this 1997 newspaper article]. | |||
Another class of pesticides called organochlorines (which includes DDT and dieldrin) have also been linked to ME/CFS.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dunstan|first=R. H.|last2=Donohoe|first2=M.|last3=Taylor|first3=W.|last4=Roberts|first4=T. K.|last5=Murdoch|first5=R. N.|last6=Watkins|first6=J. A.|last7=McGregor|first7=N. R.|date=1995-09-18|title=A preliminary investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7565234|journal=The Medical Journal of Australia|volume=163|issue=6|pages=294–297|issn=0025-729X|pmid=7565234}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dunstan|first=R. H.|last2=Roberts|first2=T. K.|last3=Donohoe|first3=M.|last4=McGregor|first4=N. R.|last5=Hope|first5=D.|last6=Taylor|first6=W. G.|last7=Watkins|first7=J. A.|last8=Murdoch|first8=R. N.|last9=Butt|first9=H. L.|date=1996-6|title=Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809349|journal=Biochemical and Molecular Medicine|volume=58|issue=1|pages=77–84|issn=1077-3150|pmid=8809349}}</ref> However most organochlorines were banned in the 1980s, with some exceptions such as dicofol which is banned in Europe but still used on cotton and fruit crops in the US, and DDT which is still used for malaria control in Africa and parts of Asia. | |||
In [[Gulf War Illness]], most of the toxic exposures and vaccinations that soldiers were exposed to have been ruled out as playing a causal role in GWI. Except for organophosphates, which the studies found strong evidence of playing a role. | |||
== Pesticide link to autoimmune disease == | |||
A study of nearly 77,000 women found that those who personally mixed or applied insecticides for 20 years had double the rate of the autoimmune conditions rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Parks|first=Christine G.|last2=Walitt|first2=Brian T.|last3=Pettinger|first3=Mary|last4=Chen|first4=Jiu-Chiuan|last5=de Roos|first5=Anneclaire J.|last6=Hunt|first6=Julie|last7=Sarto|first7=Gloria|last8=Howard|first8=Barbara V.|date=2011-2|title=Insecticide use and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20740609|journal=Arthritis Care & Research|volume=63|issue=2|pages=184–194|doi=10.1002/acr.20335|issn=2151-4658|pmc=3593584|pmid=20740609}}</ref> | |||
== Organophosphate link to aerotoxic syndrome == | |||
Organophosphate chemicals are added to aircraft engine oils, and fumes containing organophosphates can enter cabin air, making cabin crew sick with neurological symptoms. | |||
== Human exposure to pesticides == | |||
Pesticides can enter the body through the mouth, skin, eyes or lungs. Sources of pesticide exposure include garden pesticide sprays used by you or your neighbor, which can be tracked into the house on shoes. Agricultural exposure may occur in rural areas through crop spraying. Pesticide exposure can also occur through treating wood with preservatives, and treating livestock with anti-parastitic preparations, such as sheep dip. | |||
== Detoxification of pesticides == | |||
Organophosphate pesticides are detoxified from the body by an enzyme called paraoxonase, whose gene is PON1. Mutations in the PON1 gene greatly reduce the ability of paraoxonase to detoxify organophosphates. Thus individuals with these PON1 mutations are much more susceptible to the damage caused by organophosphate pesticides.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mackness|first=Bharti|last2=Durrington|first2=Paul|last3=Povey|first3=Andrew|last4=Thomson|first4=Stuart|last5=Dippnall|first5=Martin|last6=Mackness|first6=Mike|last7=Smith|first7=Ted|last8=Cherry|first8=Nicola|date=2003-2|title=Paraoxonase and susceptibility to organophosphorus poisoning in farmers dipping sheep|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12563177|journal=Pharmacogenetics|volume=13|issue=2|pages=81–88|doi=10.1097/01.fpc.0000054058.98065.38|issn=0960-314X|pmid=12563177}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Costa|first=Lucio G.|last2=Richter|first2=Rebecca J.|last3=Li|first3=Wan-Fen|last4=Cole|first4=Toby|last5=Guizzetti|first5=Marina|last6=Furlong|first6=Clement E.|date=2003-1|title=Paraoxonase (PON 1) as a biomarker of susceptibility for organophosphate toxicity|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12519632|journal=Biomarkers: Biochemical Indicators of Exposure, Response, and Susceptibility to Chemicals|volume=8|issue=1|pages=1–12|doi=10.1080/13547500210148315|issn=1354-750X|pmid=12519632}}</ref> | |||
== Call to ban all organophosphate pesticides == | |||
A systematic review in PLOS Medicine is calling for a blanket ban of all organophosphate pesticides.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hertz-Picciotto|first=Irva|last2=Sass|first2=Jennifer B.|last3=Engel|first3=Stephanie|last4=Bennett|first4=Deborah H.|last5=Bradman|first5=Asa|last6=Eskenazi|first6=Brenda|last7=Lanphear|first7=Bruce|last8=Whyatt|first8=Robin|date=2018-10-24|title=Organophosphate exposures during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment: Recommendations for essential policy reforms|url=https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002671|journal=PLOS Medicine|language=en|volume=15|issue=10|pages=e1002671|doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002671|issn=1549-1676|pmc=PMC6200179|pmid=30356230}}</ref> The paper says that widespread use of organophosphate pesticides to control insects has resulted in ubiquitous human exposures, and that compelling evidence indicates that prenatal organophosphate exposure at low levels is putting children at risk for cognitive and behavioral deficits and for neurodevelopmental disorders. The authors point out that there is no safe level of exposure to any organophosphate pesticide for pregnant women, whose babies suffer disorders ranging from impaired mental and motor skills and memory loss to autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. | |||
The paper also describes how high exposures to organophosphate pesticides are responsible for poisonings and deaths, particularly in developing countries. The United Nations estimates that 200,000 people die each year from pesticide poisonings, about 99% of them in the developing world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/24/entire-pesticide-class-should-be-banned-for-effect-on-childrens-health|title=Ban entire pesticide class to protect children's health, experts say|last=|first=|date=2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|quote=200,000 people still die each year from pesticide poisonings, according to UN estimates, about 99% of them in the developing world. A further 110,000 suicides using pesticides take place each year.|author-link=}}</ref> | |||
Revision as of 18:33, October 2, 2019
Pesticides are chemicals that control pests. Pesticides include insecticides (which control insects) and herbicides (which control weeds). The main classes of insecticides are: organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids and organochlorines.
Pesticide link to ME/CFS[edit | edit source]
In one study, Scottish sheep farmers using organophosphate-based sheep dip to protect their sheep against parasites were found to suffer much higher rates of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): the prevalence of ME/CFS in these farmers was 4 times the national UK average, implicating organophosphates as a probable causal factor in ME/CFS.[1][2]
Across the UK, at least 500 farmers were left with debilitating health problems after using organophosphate sheep dip, and the Countess of Mar, a life peer in the House of Lords who developed ME/CFS after coming into contact with sheep dip on her farm, has spent the past decades campaigning on the organophosphate issue .[3]
ME/CFS researcher Professor Peter Behan studied the organophosphate link to ME/CFS, and talks about it in this 1997 newspaper article.
Another class of pesticides called organochlorines (which includes DDT and dieldrin) have also been linked to ME/CFS.[4][5] However most organochlorines were banned in the 1980s, with some exceptions such as dicofol which is banned in Europe but still used on cotton and fruit crops in the US, and DDT which is still used for malaria control in Africa and parts of Asia.
In Gulf War Illness, most of the toxic exposures and vaccinations that soldiers were exposed to have been ruled out as playing a causal role in GWI. Except for organophosphates, which the studies found strong evidence of playing a role.
Pesticide link to autoimmune disease[edit | edit source]
A study of nearly 77,000 women found that those who personally mixed or applied insecticides for 20 years had double the rate of the autoimmune conditions rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.[6]
Organophosphate link to aerotoxic syndrome[edit | edit source]
Organophosphate chemicals are added to aircraft engine oils, and fumes containing organophosphates can enter cabin air, making cabin crew sick with neurological symptoms.
Human exposure to pesticides[edit | edit source]
Pesticides can enter the body through the mouth, skin, eyes or lungs. Sources of pesticide exposure include garden pesticide sprays used by you or your neighbor, which can be tracked into the house on shoes. Agricultural exposure may occur in rural areas through crop spraying. Pesticide exposure can also occur through treating wood with preservatives, and treating livestock with anti-parastitic preparations, such as sheep dip.
Detoxification of pesticides[edit | edit source]
Organophosphate pesticides are detoxified from the body by an enzyme called paraoxonase, whose gene is PON1. Mutations in the PON1 gene greatly reduce the ability of paraoxonase to detoxify organophosphates. Thus individuals with these PON1 mutations are much more susceptible to the damage caused by organophosphate pesticides.[7][8]
Call to ban all organophosphate pesticides[edit | edit source]
A systematic review in PLOS Medicine is calling for a blanket ban of all organophosphate pesticides.[9] The paper says that widespread use of organophosphate pesticides to control insects has resulted in ubiquitous human exposures, and that compelling evidence indicates that prenatal organophosphate exposure at low levels is putting children at risk for cognitive and behavioral deficits and for neurodevelopmental disorders. The authors point out that there is no safe level of exposure to any organophosphate pesticide for pregnant women, whose babies suffer disorders ranging from impaired mental and motor skills and memory loss to autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The paper also describes how high exposures to organophosphate pesticides are responsible for poisonings and deaths, particularly in developing countries. The United Nations estimates that 200,000 people die each year from pesticide poisonings, about 99% of them in the developing world.[10]
- ↑ "Health Report raises sheep dip health fears". BBC News. 1999.
Two years ago 60 sheep dippers in the Western Isles were found to be suffering from the chronic fatigue syndrome ME - four times the national average. Farmers who say exposure to the dips has affected their health complain of symptoms including excessive tiredness, headaches, limb pains, disturbed sleep, poor concentration, mood changes, and thoughts of suicide.
Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help); line feed character in|title=at position 7 (help) - ↑ "Inquiry into sheep dip 'sickness'". BBC News. 2000. Cite has empty unknown parameter:
|dead-url=(help) - ↑ "Revealed: government knew of farm poisoning risk but failed to act". The Guardian. 2015. Cite has empty unknown parameter:
|dead-url=(help) - ↑ Dunstan, R. H.; Donohoe, M.; Taylor, W.; Roberts, T. K.; Murdoch, R. N.; Watkins, J. A.; McGregor, N. R. (September 18, 1995). "A preliminary investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome". The Medical Journal of Australia. 163 (6): 294–297. ISSN 0025-729X. PMID 7565234.
- ↑ Dunstan, R. H.; Roberts, T. K.; Donohoe, M.; McGregor, N. R.; Hope, D.; Taylor, W. G.; Watkins, J. A.; Murdoch, R. N.; Butt, H. L. (1996-6). "Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters". Biochemical and Molecular Medicine. 58 (1): 77–84. ISSN 1077-3150. PMID 8809349. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Parks, Christine G.; Walitt, Brian T.; Pettinger, Mary; Chen, Jiu-Chiuan; de Roos, Anneclaire J.; Hunt, Julie; Sarto, Gloria; Howard, Barbara V. (2011-2). "Insecticide use and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study". Arthritis Care & Research. 63 (2): 184–194. doi:10.1002/acr.20335. ISSN 2151-4658. PMC 3593584. PMID 20740609. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Mackness, Bharti; Durrington, Paul; Povey, Andrew; Thomson, Stuart; Dippnall, Martin; Mackness, Mike; Smith, Ted; Cherry, Nicola (2003-2). "Paraoxonase and susceptibility to organophosphorus poisoning in farmers dipping sheep". Pharmacogenetics. 13 (2): 81–88. doi:10.1097/01.fpc.0000054058.98065.38. ISSN 0960-314X. PMID 12563177. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Costa, Lucio G.; Richter, Rebecca J.; Li, Wan-Fen; Cole, Toby; Guizzetti, Marina; Furlong, Clement E. (2003-1). "Paraoxonase (PON 1) as a biomarker of susceptibility for organophosphate toxicity". Biomarkers: Biochemical Indicators of Exposure, Response, and Susceptibility to Chemicals. 8 (1): 1–12. doi:10.1080/13547500210148315. ISSN 1354-750X. PMID 12519632. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Hertz-Picciotto, Irva; Sass, Jennifer B.; Engel, Stephanie; Bennett, Deborah H.; Bradman, Asa; Eskenazi, Brenda; Lanphear, Bruce; Whyatt, Robin (October 24, 2018). "Organophosphate exposures during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment: Recommendations for essential policy reforms". PLOS Medicine. 15 (10): e1002671. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002671. ISSN 1549-1676. PMC 6200179. PMID 30356230.
- ↑ "Ban entire pesticide class to protect children's health, experts say". The Guardian. 2018.
200,000 people still die each year from pesticide poisonings, according to UN estimates, about 99% of them in the developing world. A further 110,000 suicides using pesticides take place each year.
Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help)
