A Review on the Position of the Carcinogenic Hazards of pesticides Registered in Iran

Subject Areas : Plant Protection

Ahmad Heidari ¹

1 -

Received: 2013-09-04 Accepted : 2014-09-09 Published : 2014-11-22

Keywords:

Abstract :

In Iran, as in many other countries pesticide usage is considered as one of the main methods of pest control. Although pesticides are effective in increasing the yield, its improper use can cause serious health and environmental impacts. Pesticides are one of the factors known or suspected to cause cancer and hormonal disorders in humans and in risk evaluation programs of carcinogenic agents have been regarded as an important factor. In a few countries and the international communities, there are several methods for the classification of carcinogenic agents. In this study, the registered pesticides in the country were investigated in terms of their potential carcinogenicity. The results showed that although none of the pesticides registered in the country fall in group A (carcinogenic to humans) based on EPA classification, But a number of pesticides are in the group B (likely to be carcinogenic to humans).These include butachlor, captan, chlorothalonil, cyproconazol, iprodion, maneb, mancozeb, propargite, zineb, thiodicarb, epoxiconazole, kresoximmethyl, permethrin, pirimicarb, pymetrozine, sulfosulfuron, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, thiacloprid, thiophanate methyl, diuron, diclofob methyl, acetochlor, hexythiazox, oxadiazon and oxyflurofen that are currently used in Iran. A number of registered pesticides in the country fall in Group C (suggestive evidence of carcinogenic potential) according to the EPA classification like cypermethrin, dichlorvos, dimethoate, tebuconazole, malathion and tetramethrin which are highly consumed in Iran. Certainly, Special attention has to be paid to registration of new pesticides, and registered pesticides have to be reviewed so as to have pesticides with low risk of carcinogenicity. Proper Pesticides usage by the users so as to reduce the exposure rate of the applicators and the crops to have a lower pesticides residue are also important.

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