Toxic epidemics caused by alimentary exposure to pesticides: a review

Toxic epidemics have become a serious problem during the twentieth century, due mainly to the huge expansion over the last 50 years of the chemical industry, which has placed tens of thousands of new synthetic organic compounds in the human environment. In the particular case of chemical pesticides, their undiscriminating, widespread use, and harmful potential has been demonstrated by the epidemics generated by accidental contamination by pesticides of foods consumed by man, resulting in high mortality and morbidity rates. We have analysed the main characteristics of 63 outbreaks of toxicity caused by alimentary exposure to pesticides described in the scientific literature of this century, with the aim of increasing knowledge and understanding of the factors that are conducive to them or that trigger their onset. Such episodes are good indicators of the incorrect use of these products and serve to demonstrate failures of the available safety systems. We conclude by identifying some preventive measures that could be used to avoid their future repetition.