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Locust Control Chemicals and Human Health

Chemical Name

Chemical Family

Further Information (Toxicity etc.)

Fipronil

Phenylpyrazole

Moderate toxicity, possible carcinogen, suspected endocrine disruptor

Test rats - thyroid tumors, seizures, decreased thyroid hormone levels, increased mass of the liver and thyroid, kidney effects, aggression and irritability. 'No human data were found on chronic effects of fipronil'

APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) review in progress since 2003.

Fenitrothion

Organophosphate

Moderate Toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor

"Fenitrothion is one of a class of chemically similar substances called organophosphorus pesticides. They are chemically similar to compounds developed as 'nerve gas' developed for use as chemical weapons before and during the second world war, and have a similar mode of action."

APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) review in progress since 1996.

Chlopyrifos

Organophosphate

Moderate toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor

Nervous system damage to mice, rats and rabbits in tests

'Neurobehavioral effects';'effects on rat neuronal cell development';'Data from two human studies indicate that humans may be more sensitive to chlorpyrifos compared to rats or dogs'

'Direct and indirect effects on fetal and neonatal neural cell replication and differentiation'

'Levels of the organophosphate chlorpyrifos in umbilical cord plasma were inversely associated with birth weight and length'

Developmental delays, attention problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

'Immunologic Abnormalities in Humans Exposed to Chlorpyrifos '

Possible link with lung cancer

Effects serotonin levels during development and later in life in rats

Possible link to depression and other neurobehavioral symptoms

Possible link with hypertension and diabetes

Impacts on cognition, motor skills, and possibly behaviour

Possible link to Parkinsons disease

Possible link to birth defects

Possible links to cancer, leukaemia

APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) review in progress since 2000.

Diazinon

Organophosphate

Moderate toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor

Nervous System Damage

Effects on Neural Cell Development

Links to all cancers, all lymphohematopoietic, leukemia, lung

APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) review in progress since 1996.

Maldison/Malathion

Organophosphate

Moderate toxicity, possible carcinogen, cholinesterase inhibitor, suspected endocrine disruptor

In animals - 'Central nervous system overstimulation may lead to depression, anxiety, hyperactivity or restlessness, reduced respiration, seizures, and coma'. In humans - 'signs and symptoms were associated with the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems'

Test rats developed liver cancer. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has determined that there is "suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity but not sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential by all routes of exposure..."

'Malathion interferes with the normal way that the nerves and brain function. Exposure to very high levels of malathion for a short period in air, water, or food may cause difficulty breathing, chest tightness, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, blurred vision, sweating, headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and death.'

Possible links to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, liver damage, immuno-suppression, retinal degeneration, possible link with birth defects

Carbaryl

Carbamate

Likely Carcinogen, moderate toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor

Likely human carcinogen (caused vascular tumors in mice)

Applicators found to have increased incidence of Melanoma -

APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) review in progress since 1995.

'Carbaryl caused tumours of the thyroid, urinary bladder and liver in rats, and kidney, liver and vascular systems in mice.' - see also 'Appendix B: Toxicology hazard profile'

Cypermethrin

Synthetic Pyrethroid 

Possible carcinogen

Evidence that Cypermethrin causes cancer in animals, test mice developed lung tumors

Alpha-cypermethrin 

Synthetic Pyrethroid 

Moderate toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor

Beta-cyfluthrin

Synthetic Pyrethroid 

Moderate toxicity

Gamma-Cyhalothrin

Synthetic Pyrethroid 

Suspected endocrine disruptor

Lambda-Cyhalothrin

Synthetic Pyrethroid 

Moderate toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor

 

General Infomation on Chemical Types

Organophosphates

Possible links to brain tumors

Possible links to developmental problems

A recent study has linked Organophosphates with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Quotes from the APVMA's Media Release. The emphasis appears to be on 'urban Australians'.

"One of the key issues for the APVMA is the relevance of the findings to likely exposures to organophosphate insecticides in Australia. The subjects of the current study worked in an agricultural area where pesticide exposures are greater than the urban population would typically experience..."

"The APVMA is confident that urban Australians have no cause for concern given their limited exposure to organophosphate products. Australian farm workers can also have confidence that occupational exposure has been assessed by the regulator and that they are not at risk provided they follow the label instructions. These assessments, importantly, also include developmental impacts on unborn children. If information emerges suggesting a new concern, the APVMA is able to review its original assessment and provide warnings to workers and impose additional controls."

"Nonetheless the APVMA will continue to follow ongoing research between ADHD and pesticides to see if the associations observed in the current study are shown to reflect a direct causal relationship."

Several Organophosphate Pesticides recommended for use in the control of Australian Plague Locusts (Fenitrothion, Diazinon, Chlorpyrifos) have been 'under review' by the APVMA for up to 14 years.

Recently (August 2010) the Australian Federal Government has admitted that reform is needed in the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

According to the then Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, "Inefficiencies in the system have led to a backlog of chemicals requiring review...Federal Labor has recognised the system is not working as effectively as it should and has been looking at options for reform...we need a major overhaul, to transform a cumbersome system into a cutting-edge system which is better for the environment, better for human health, helps to make Australia more globally competitive and supports jobs."

Pyrethroids

Pyrethrin linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders

Developmental neurotoxicity of pyrethroid insecticides

Leukaemia Linked to Pesticides

General Links - Chemicals and Human Health
Last Modified: Monday, February 07, 2011
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