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Pesticides are chemicals used to eliminate or control unwanted or harmful insects, plants, fungi, animals, or microorganisms in order to protect food crops and other plants. Some pesticides have been classified as carcinogens. Chlordane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) are possible human carcinogens. General studies of people with high exposures to pesticides, such as farmers, pesticide applicators, manufacturers, and crop dusters, have found high rates of blood and lymphatic system cancers; cancers of the lip, stomach, lung, brain, and prostate; as well as melanoma and other skin cancers.
Possible carcinogens, pesticides chlordane and DDT and their metabolites, measured in human blood.
Chlordane was measured in three metabolites. Concentrations of chlordane (and its metabolite, oxychlordane) rose from 1999 to 2002 and then dropped from 2003–2004; chlordane metabolites trans-nonachlor and heptachlor epoxide have been on a more constant and steady decline from 1999–2004. Blood concentrations of the DDT metabolite DDE have risen. Pesticide levels in human metabolites were measured in a random sample of participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Table P1. 95th Percentile for Blood (lipid-adjusted) concentrations of DDT and chlordane, nanogram/gram (ng/g), 1999–2004.
Blood concentrations (nanograms per gram, ng/g):
Reduce exposure of the population to pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals, as measured by blood and urine concentrations of the substances or their metabolites.
Farmers, pesticide applicators, crop dusters, pesticide manufacturers, and home gardeners could be at high risk of exposure to pesticides. The general population may be exposed to low doses of pesticides from fruits and vegetables bought from the supermarket or from contaminated surface or ground water.
National goals have been set, but not yet reached, to reduce pesticide exposure. To help prevent pesticide exposure, people who apply pesticides should follow application directions and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, etc.). For the general public, washing fruits and vegetables with water also helps to reduce pesticide exposure.