Aging Begins at 30

Did Your Fruit Cost Harvesters Their Health

I remember driving through Fresno in California and admiring the great quantities of fruit, vegetables and cotton grown there. I learned from my guide book that the city of Fresno grew in size more than 62% between 1980 and 1990. Before that, since 1880 Fresno had grown more slowly but steadily and primarily from irrigated farming. We visited a friend there that we used to work with.

In California suspected pesticide related illnesses are reportable to the Health Department. On July 31, 1998 ( as reported in MMWR) a cotton field had been sprayed with a cholinesterase inhibiting pesticide. It prevents the change of acetylcholine and water to choline. Acetylcholine is the chemical that makes muscles act. Instead the acetylcholine accumulates and affects both voluntary an involuntary muscles (e.g. eye muscles.). The pesticide is clearly labeled "No one should enter sprayed fields for 48 hours. Fields should be clearly posted. Workers should be told of dangers."

Thirty four workers of average age 31 (range 13 to 64) entered the fields two hours after spraying. They were later taken to another field 3 miles away that had been sprayed with another pesticide 2 days before (no entry allowed for 12 hours). Within an hour of entering the second field they began feeling sick and stopped working. Over 80% had eye irritation and muscle weakness. About 70% had tearing and vomiting. Almost 50% had salivation and 15% had a slow pulse, sweating and contracted pupils. Thirty were taken to a local clinic, the others went home. Some got medical help later. One worker was kept overnight with an abnormal heart rhythm. Eighty percent lost one or more days of work.

Foliage samples and workers’ clothing showed evidence of pesticide residue consistent with application of the spray early in the morning of illness. Red blood cell cholinesterase levels were low and pesticide residues were found in the workers urine up to 11 days after exposure. Contamination of children and other family members can occur by contact with clothes but was not reported in this incident.

Safer less toxic pesticides should be used when feasible. Failure to observe "restricted entry levels" can lead to serious illness. In 1995 in California 248,000 lb. of cholinesterase inhibiting carbamate pesticide were used primarily in alfalfa, rice, table wine grapes and cotton fields.

In one national report on poisonings pesticides did not make up a great number of cases (3.5%) but 28% of those affected were 65 years of age or older who comprise about 15% of the population. In other reports of poisoning in the elderly was accidental in 83%, suicidal in 15% and drug abuse in 2%. Pesticide exposure in the elderly came primarily from gardening. In most cases labels on the product used contained instructions that were not followed or which the users did not or were unable to read. Aging may slow the elimination of poisons and worsen their effects. Major consequences occur in 0.8% compared to 0.1% in people under 60 who are exposed. What price in health did the workers pay? Did they get proper health care supervision? Thanks to public health legislation and to dedicated public health workers, these accidents do not occur often.

Think of this when you buy grapes. How much did they cost you? Was there a hidden indirect illness cost to the harvesters? We all need to see that the latter hidden costs are kept to a minimum.

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