Pesticides
About This Health Driver
Pesticides are synthetic compounds applied for pest control, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides. In residential settings, exposure occurs through indoor application (sprays, foggers, treated surfaces, pest strips), drift from adjacent properties, tracked-in residues on shoes and pets, and contaminated water.
How It Affects Bodies
Organophosphates and carbamates inhibit acetylcholinesterase, disrupting neurotransmission. Pyrethroids affect sodium channel function in neurons. Organochlorines are persistent endocrine disruptors. Chronic low-level residential exposure produces cumulative neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects. In genetically predisposed individuals, these effects may contribute to immune dysregulation and autoimmune activation.
Where It Comes From
- Indoor application - sprays, foggers, pest strips, treated surfaces
- Lawn and garden treatment - herbicides and insecticides applied to adjacent outdoor areas
- Drift from adjacent properties - neighbor's applications, agricultural drift
- Tracked-in residues - shoes and pets carrying outdoor pesticide residues indoors
- Contaminated water - agricultural and industrial pesticide contamination of water supply
How to Address It
- Integrated pest management protocol - prevention-first approach in the operating manualOperations
- Envelope sealing for pest exclusion - sealed sill plates, screened vents, door sweepsEnvelope
- Shoes-off policy - reduce tracked-in pesticide residuesOperations
- Buffer planting - physical distance and vegetation between the building and potential drift sourcesSite
- Water filtration - activated carbon filtration for pesticide removalPlumbing