Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 5:PESTICIDES AND HEALTH,SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENTFungicidesFungicides vary enormously in their potential for causing harmful effects in humans.Fungicides have been responsible for some of the most tragic epidemics of pesticidepoisoning because of mistaken consumption of seed treated with organic mercury orhexachlorobenzene fungicides. Fungicides can however cause a variety of chronic healthproblems.Acute toxicityHighlights numerous fungicides in use with varying levels of toxicity other than organomercury fungicides, most fungicides are unlikely to be absorbed enoughto cause systemic acute poisoning fungicides as a class are probably responsible, however, for a disproportionate number ofirritant injuries to skin, mucous membranes, and eyes as well as dermal sensitisationThiocarbamate fungicidesExample: ThiramThe active ingredient, Thiram, as a dust is moderately irritating to human skin, eyes, andrespiratory mucous membranes. Contact dermatitis has occurred in occupationally exposedworkers. A few individuals have experienced sensitisation to thiram. Systemic poisoningshave been few. The reaction includes symptoms of nausea, vomiting, pounding headache,dizziness, faintness, mental confusion, dyspnoea, chest and abdominal pain, profusesweating, and skin rash.Example: Ethylene bis dithiocarbamates (EBDC compounds)The active ingedients, Maneb, Zineb, Nabam and Mancozeb may cause irritation of the skin,mucous membranes and eyes. Both maneb and zineb have been responsible for cases ofchronic skin disease in occupationally exposed workers, possibly by sensitisation. Systemicpoisonings with these compounds have been extremely rare.232 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers