Surveying of Pesticides Commonly on the Markets of Iran in 2009

doi:10.4236/jep.2011.28129

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Journal of Environmental Protection, 2011, 2, 1113-1117

doi:10.4236/jep.2011.28129 Published Online October 2011 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jep)

Surveying of Pesticides Commonly on the Markets

of Iran in 2009

Rouhullah Dehghani¹, Seyed Gholamabbas Moosavi², Hadi Esalmi1*, Malihe Mohammadi1,

Zahra Jalali1, Nargess Zamini1

1Department of Environment Health, Kashan Medical Sciences University, Kashan, Iran; 2Department of General Health of Kashan

Medical Sciences University, Kashan Medical Sciences University, Kashan, Iran.

Email: *[email protected]

Received July 11th, 2011; revised August 15th, 2011; accepted September 23rd, 2011.

ABSTRACT

Considering the potential pesticide side effects on environment, their short and long term untoward effects on living

creatures, their excessive usage for producing more agricultural products, and also their application to destroy pests of

any sort, the present study was carried out to investigate the used amount of common pesticides in Iran markets. A

questionnaire was d esigned. Referring to pesticide selling shops and plants preserva tions organizations in Tehran and

Isfahan, the sufficient data was collected and then categorized regarding the app lications and the total amoun t of used

pesticides in a year. The results demonstrated that there were 60 sorts of used pesticides in Iran. They included Or-

ganochlorine (10%), Organophosphorus (28.4%), Pyrethroids derivatives (10%), Carbamate derivatives (10%), and

others (41.6%). The common est pesticid e used in a yea r was O rgano phosph o rus and th e least on e was Organoch lorin e.

The obtained da ta pointed out that th e most common pe sticide was Organo phosphorus. G iven that Organop hosphorine

compounds are poisonous in living creatures and cause short and long term side effects. It is recommended that re-

sponsible authorities provide the necessary information for the aimed groups in terms of the allowable using amount of

pesticides, the protection strategies and the pesticides hazards on users.

Keywords: Pesticide, Organophosphorus, Organochlorine, Carbamate, Pyrethroids, Market, Iran

1. Introduction

The increasing population necessitates more agricultural

products and foodstuffs that consequently need more

pesticide usage to destroy any pests [1,2]. The pesticide

compounds include Organophosphorus, Organochlorine,

Carbamate and Pyrethroid derivatives [3]. They have

some side effects on living creatures; e.g. Organophos-

phorus inhibits cholinesterase activity and it makes CNS

functional disturbances. Organochlorine accumulates in

living creature bodies and also in food chain. Carbamate

derivatives cause genetic mutations and CNS functional

disturbanc es [4 ] .

These pesticides are used widely to improve agricul-

tural production and also to prevent arthropod-borne d is-

eases. But they are used improperly due to the lake of

appropriate knowledge about their applications and un-

toward effects. The excessive usage is harmful to eco-

system and they contaminate soil, surface and under-

ground water resources [5,6]. The relevant fulfilled re-

searches have shown that each year 2.5 million tons of

pesticides are used in agriculture sector in the world.

50% of them penetrate to soil, water and other sources

and also to the bodies of living creatures [7]. Relevant

poisoning in many countries, especially in developing

countries is considered the second causes of mortalities

after infectious diseases [8,9].

Pesticides cause untoward effects on man in two ways.

Firstly, they have direct effects on the health of persons

who use them; and secondly, their remnants accumulate

in foodstuffs which also produce side effects on man [10].

The side effects include short term ones like abdominal

cramps, vertigo, headaches, diplopia, nausea, ocular dis-

turbances and dermatopathies. Long term adverse effects

include increased likelihood of respiratory failures, re-

calling disturbance, depression, nervous defects, prostate

cancer, leukemia and infertility. These problems are con-

sidered the major health problems in the world [10-12].

The various investigations conducted on farmers in

terms of their health status demonstrated that pesticides

may increase the likelihood of Parkinson d isease [13,14].

Surveying of Pesticides Commonly on the Markets of Iran in 2009

1114

WHO estimate that 3 million of farmers suffer from se-

vere poisoning caused by pesticides is in developing

countries. 18000 of them die and 21% of foodstuffs have

pesticide contamination [7]. There are 2000 - 3000 hos-

pital admissions each year in USA due to acute pesticide

poisoning which 50% children. Another study revealed

that 10% - 20% of farmers who worked in fields suffered

from poisoning [15]. In a study fulfilled by Aghilinejad

et al (2008), regarding the influence of pesticides on the

health of farmers in 5 provinces of Iran demonstrated

that 50% of farmers were illiterate and they had been

working for 16 - 28 years. Moreover, the data showed

that Organophosphorus usage was higher (95%) in Raf-

sanjan and Savojbolagh than in other parts of Iran. 68%

of studies farmers used no protection devices and only

5% were aware of the information poin ted on the labe l of

pesticide containers. 55% of farmers discarded the con-

tainers in environment with no special care [16].

With taking into account the potential hazards caused

by Pesticides and the excessive usage, the current study

was fulfilled to investigate the total amount of used pes-

ticides in Iran in 2009. The obtained results can be used

by health care providers, agriculture organizations, and

those involved in applying the pesticide so that they will

provide appropr iate regulations for th e safe usage of pes-

ticides.

2. Materials and Methods

This was a descriptive study to investigate the common

pesticides sold in Iran markets. Firstly, a questionnaire

was designed and in included some parameters like the

sort of pesticides sold in Iran markets, the total used

amount and their applications. The necessary information

was obtained with referring to the centers selling pesti-

cides and also to plants preservation organization in Te-

hran and Isfahan. Secondly, the pesticides were evalu-

ated and categorized concerning their ingredients, their

use base on agriculture, public health and animal farm,

their applications and the total used amount. The ques-

tionnaire was completed and the data was categorized.

Quantity of any groups pesticide sold out, were calcu-

lated. After that tables were plotted and results were

shown in those.

3. Results

Totally, 48 pesticides selling shops and 2 plants preser-

vation organizations were questioned. The investigations

showed that there were 60 sorts of pesticides in various

agriculture and health sectors. They included organo-

phosphorus (28.45), organochlorine (10%), Pyrethroids

(10%), Carbamat(10%) and other derivatives(41.6%)

(Table 1). Out of total amount of used Pesticides in a

year, 43.65 Insecticides, 12.9% Acaricides, 17.7% Her-

bicides, 12.9% Fungicides, 1.6% Molluscicides and

11.1% Rode nt i c i des w ere us ed.

The total amount of used pesticides in liq uid from in a

year was 206135 liters out of which59.435 was Organo-

phosphorus, 0.11% Organochlorine, 22.45% Pyrethroid,

1.26% crbamat derivatives and 16.75% other compounds.

The total amont of used solid pesticides was 19390 kg

out of which 18.1% were Organophosphorus, 1.4% Or-

ganochlorine, 9.28% Pyrethroid, 7.48% Cabamate de-

rivative’s and 63.74% 0ther sorts. Totally, the highest

amount of used pesticides belonged to Organophospho-

rus and the least one to Organochlorine (Table 2).

Out of total amount of used pesticides regarding to the

range of hazards, there were highly (9.3%), moderately

(58.5%) and lowly (32.2%) hazardous pesticides. The

total amount of used pesticides based on Kilograms,

there were 19.2% highly, 27.9% moderately and 52.9%

lowly hazardous ones (Table 3).

4. Discussion

The obtained data revealed that the most common used

pesticide was Organophosphorus. In the study conducted

by Bradman et al., (2011) on children inhibitanted near

the fields where they world exposure to Organophos-

phorus pesticides demonstrated that the children con-

sumed foodstuffs containing pesticides. Therefore, in

order to prevent the sid e effects related to pesticides, it is

recommended that the persons exposing to foodstuffs

contaminated with pesticides wash them thoroug hly with

Table 1. The prevalence distribution of common pesticides sold in Iran markets based on their sorts and applications.

Pesticide groups Applications

Organophosphorus Insecticide Acaricide Herbicide Fungicide MolluscicideRodenticide Sum (Percent)

Organochlorine 5 1 1 - - - 6 (10)

Pyrethroids 14 2 1 1 - - 17 (28.4)

Carbamate 5 1 - - - - 6 (10)

Other derivatives 2 - - 4 - - 6 (10)

Organophosphorus 1 4 9 3 1 7 25 (41.6)

Total 27 8 11 7 1 7 60 (100)

Surveying of Pesticides Commonly on the Markets of Iran in 20091115

Table 2. The prevalence distribution of sold pesticides in Iran markets according to the used amount per a year.

Used amount per a year by like solid Used amount per a year by like liquid

row Pesticide groups kg Percent liter Percent

1 Organophosphorus 270 1.4 225 0.11

2 Organochlorine 3510 18.1 122500 59.43

3 Pyrethroid 1800 9.28 46280 22.45

4 Carbamat 1450 7.48 2600 1.26

5 Other derivatives 12360 63.74 34530 16.75

sum 19390 100 206135 100

Table 3. The prevalence distribution of used pesticides regarding EPA classification regarding their hazards.

Used amount per a year by like solid Used amount per a year by like liquid

Danger groups kg Percent liter Percent

I 3720 19.2 19175 6.3

II 5410 27.9 120630 58.5

III 1026 52.9 66330 32.2

sufficient water before eating [17]. In a study fulfill by

Aghilinegad et al (2008), it was revealed that the most

common used pesticide in Rafsanjan and Savojbolagh

was Organophosphorus (95%) [16]. Another investiga-

tion performed by Mahmoodi et al (2006) on admitted

patients to a hospital in Khoramabadi, Iran, showed that

77.1% and 22.9% of poisoning cases owed to Organo-

phosphorus and Organochlorine; respectively [18]. Hence

the findings were compatible with ours which showed

the main cause of poisoning belonged to Organophos-

phorus. It seems that Organophosphorus be used mostly

due to its wide efficacy and low price in compared with

other compounds [19]. Organophosphorus inhibits cho-

linesterase activity and cause CNS dysfunctions which

are life threatening. The highest mortalities due to pesti-

cides belonged to Or ganophosphorus pestic ides [1].

The present study demonstrated that the used amount

of Pyrethroid and Carbamate derivatives was lesser than

the amount of other compounds due to their high price,

the lack of awareness about their applications and the

pest resistance, in spite of the fact that they have lesser

harmful impact on environment and man in compares

with other compounds. In current study, the least pesti-

cide usage belonged to Organochlorine, because the us-

age belonged to was resistance in various species. As

mentioned before, one of the most important obstacles in

pesticide application is resistance phenomenon.

One of the most important pests in environmental

health is Cockroaches. In the study conducted by Ladoni

(1993) in Iran, the resistance level in German Cock-

roache strains existed in 5 different hospitals to several

pesticides like Pyrethroid derivatives; e.g. Permethrin

was investigated. The researchers found that some spe-

cies were resistant to Permethrin and Cypermethrin [20].

Limooi et al, studied the resistance level in German

Cockroache strains to Pyrethroid derivatives and DDT,

and the highest resistance levels belonged to Permethrin ,

Cypermethrin and Cyfluthrin; respectively. Also, Ger-

man cockroaches had resistance to DDT [21]. Another

research conducted concerning the resistance level in

American cockroaches to several pesticides in Kashan

hospital revealed that these Cockroaches had resistance

to Pyrethroids, Permethrin and Cyfluthrin [22].

Therefore, considering long time resistance to pesti-

cides, we should care about the efficacy of pesticides in

each species and should carry out specific tests to deter-

mine the appropriate pesticide in order to prevent the

excessive usage. Given that the relevant poisoning to

pesticide in developing countries is 13 times higher than

that existed in dev eloped countries; i.e. 85% of produced

pesticides are used in developing countries [10]. It is

imperative that definite regulations be implemented re-

garding the pesticide applications and also placing farm-

ers under an obligation to follow this regulation for pre-

venting poisoning. Another strategy for decreasing pesti-

cides excessive usage is integrated pest management

(IPM) [23].

5. Conclussions

Considering the excessive pesticides usage, the responsi-

ble authorities should supervise the used amount of pes-

ticides. Moreover, continuous education program s shoul d

be held for pesticides producers and farmers. It is neces-

sary to broad cast special and technical advertisements in

mass media in order to increase the public knowledge

concerning the pesticides on toward effects. Hence it is

Surveying of Pesticides Commonly on the Markets of Iran in 2009

1116

recommended that the complete educational series be

provided for farmers in four sections: A- terms o f how to

apply pesticides. B- to manage the short and long term

adverse effects .C- to use personal masks while applying

pesticides in the fields. D- To discard the pesticides con-

tainers carefully. Also the responsible authorities should

provide proper information about pesticides for someone

involved in app lying those.

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