Blain P G
Division of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Adverse Drug React Acute Poisoning Rev. 1990 Spring;9(1):37-68.
Pesticides are currently perceived by the public as posing a major long-term threat to the health of the population. While the acute toxic effects of accidental or intentional ingestion of large doses are accepted, very little is known about the health risks associated with chronic occupational exposure or a life-long intake in food and drinking water. As in most cases of risk assessment, it is the relative risks that must be considered. Pesticides have made a vital contribution to the quality and quantity of food and overall to health both in developed and, most significantly, developing countries, so that their sudden withdrawal would present far more serious health problems than do their potential long-term toxic effects. Genetic engineering may develop seeds that are naturally resistant to many plant diseases, and biological methods of insect control are likely to be used more frequently, but the continued use of pesticides will be necessary for many more years. There is a pressing need for research into the chronic health effects in man of low-level exposure to pesticides, the mechanisms of the toxic effects, and the development of reliable methods for monitoring exposure. The responsibility for ensuring that this work is undertaken must be accepted by governments.
目前，公众认为农药对人类健康构成重大长期威胁。虽然意外或故意摄入大剂量农药的急性毒性作用已为人所知，但对于与慢性职业接触或通过食物和饮用水终身摄入相关的健康风险却知之甚少。与大多数风险评估情况一样，必须考虑相对风险。农药对发达国家以及最重要的发展中国家的食物质量和数量以及总体健康都做出了至关重要的贡献，因此突然停用农药所带来的健康问题将远比其潜在的长期毒性影响严重得多。基因工程可能培育出对多种植物病害具有天然抗性的种子，生物防虫方法可能会更频繁地使用，但在未来许多年里，持续使用农药仍将是必要的。迫切需要开展研究，以了解低水平接触农药对人类慢性健康的影响、毒性作用机制以及开发可靠的接触监测方法。政府必须承担起确保开展这项工作的责任。
