What about pesticide exposures in older adults?
Some groups of people, such as older adults, people with healthconditions, those who are pregnant, or infants and children, may bemore sensitive to pesticides. The size of the elderly population isincreasing. Recent studies show that by the year 2030 one out of everyfive Americans will be age 65 orolder.1 This fact sheet providesa summary of factors that could increase the pesticide risk for olderadults.
Can pesticides enter the body more easily as people age?
In order for a pesticide to affect you, it must be absorbed intoyour body by swallowing it, breathing it, or getting it on yourskin. As we grow older, the chances of absorbing pesticides into thebody may increase for several reasons.
The outer layers of our skin become thinner as we age. Because ofthis, pesticides that are absorbed through the skin of young, healthyadults may enter more quickly through the skin of olderadults.2 This may cause an olderperson to absorb more of a pesticide compared to a younger person,even if the amount of pesticide that contacts the skin is thesame.
The thinner skin of older adults is also more easily damaged uponcontact with a pesticide. This damaged skin, however, is slower tobecome red or irritated. It may take longer for older adults torealize that they need to wash harmful chemicals from their skinsimply because it takes longer for the skin to react to thepesticide.3 Because older adultsmay be exposed for longer periods, they may absorb more pesticide thana younger person would.
As we age, our nervous system changes in ways that can affect howeasily we notice changes to our surroundings through our sense ofsmell, touch, or taste.3 Becauseof this, aging may also affect how quickly we respond to odors andskin sensations. Slower response times may make it difficult forolder adults to determine when they are being exposed to a pesticide.Older adults may absorb more pesticides into their bodies simplybecause they may be exposed for longer periods.
Why is it harder for older adults to remove pesticides from their bodies?
The ability of the heart to move blood around the body declines aswe age.4 This reduces blood flowto the liver and kidneys, which also decrease in size as we growolder. Reduced blood flow and decreases in liver and kidney size canwork together to slow the break down and removal of pesticides fromthe body.2,3,5
Does aging effect how the body stores pesticides?
People tend to gain body fat and lose lean muscle as they age. Thebody stores many pesticides in fat before they are removed from thebody by the liver or kidneys. Pesticides that are stored in fat canbuild up in larger quantities in the bodies of older adults. Becauseof this, older adults may experience health problems from pesticideexposures that may not cause problems for youngeradults.2,5
The body also stores pesticides in the blood and other bodyfluids. Such pesticides may stay in the bodies of older adults longerif aging kidneys are not as effective in removingthem.3
What effects could result from pesticide exposures in the elderly?
Older adults may be more likely to have health problems after apesticide exposure and may need more time to heal for the followingreasons.
- The liver and kidneys become less able to remove pesticides fromthe body as we age. Pesticides may speed up aging of the liver orkidneys if these organs are injured during anexposure.2,5 Older adults maybecome even less able to remove pesticides from the body after theliver or kidneys are impacted.
- The longer a pesticide stays in the body, the more likely it is tobuild up to levels that may causeinjury.2 Older adults may havehealth problems after a pesticide exposure simply because their bodiescan no longer remove pesticides quickly.
- Chemicals such as prescription drugs or pesticides can react witheach other once they are inside the body. These chemical reactions maycause unexpected health effects in older adults for tworeasons. First, older adults may take more prescription medicationsthan younger people. Second, chemicals stay in the bodies of olderadults longer, so they have more time to react. Both of these reasonsincrease the chance that a drug will interact with a pesticide thatenters the body.2
What other factors can increase pesticide risk for older adults?
Older adults may take more prescription drugs than youngerpeople.2 Most pesticides arebroken down and removed from the body by the liver and kidneys. Theseorgans also remove prescription drugs from the body. The liver andkidneys may become less able to remove pesticides from the body ifsomeone is taking several types of prescriptiondrugs.5 Older adults are alsomore likely to suffer from diseases of the liver, kidneys or otherorgans that help remove pesticides from thebody.5 Disease can reduce theability of older adults to remove pesticides from the body and mayincrease pesticide risk.
What precautions can help elderly people minimize the chance of having a problem?
Older adults can reduce their pesticide riskby minimizing their exposure topesticides, choosing pest control measures that do not involvepesticides or by selecting less toxic pesticide products. Considerusing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM)approach to pest control. If you want to know more about IPM or aboutthe toxicity of a pesticide product,call NPIC at1-800-858-7378.
Anytime you use a pesticide, be sure to read and follow the labelinstructions. The label will include important information forprotecting yourself, such as protective clothing that should be wornwhen applying the product. Wash your hands, face, and clothing afteryou finish handling a pesticide.
If pesticides are being used near you, ask for details about theactivity, such as where it is happening, how much area is beingtreated, and what pesticide is being used. Ask the person who is usingthe pesticide what precautions you should take, such as leaving thearea for a period of time.
If you have been exposed to a pesticide, take note of the situationin which it happened. The length and amount of exposure are importantdetails for understanding your risk. Read the first aid statement onthe product label, and follow theinstructions. Again, call NPIC if you need assistance at1-800-858-7378.
