March 2004, Volume 10 No. 1

ARTICLE 6

Health Perspective of Pesticide Exposure and Dietary Management

Rathinam Xavier¹, K. Rekha² & K.L. Bairy^2
1 Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, 2, Persiaran Cempaka, Amanjaya, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia
² Faculty of Medicine and Health sciences, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, Persiaran Cempaka, Amanjaya, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

ABSTRACT
Among the chemicals, pesticides which are mainly used in agriculture pose major health problems to human beings. Indiscriminate use of pesticides belonging to the class organophosphate, organochlorine, carbomate, and pyrethroid leads to various health problems affecting the nervous, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems. The toxicity of pesticide in human beings is influenced by various factors such as age, gender and health status of the individual in addition to the intensity and frequency of pesticide used. Comparatively, children are at greater risk than the adults. The human detoxification system plays a vital role in reducing the harmful effects of the pesticides. However, when the toxic level is increased beyond the capacity of the detoxification system, health condition deteriorates. Human diet plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of a person. Vitamins such as Vitamin C and E are effective in preventing DNA damage because of their antioxidant properties. Intake of fruits and vegetables improves the antioxidants level in the blood. Phenolic substances present in certain spices possess potent anticarcinogenic activities. Organic farming may be a viable solution to reduce the toxic effects of chemicals.

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