[Allergic diseases caused by pesticides: 3 case reports]

Current pesticide exposure levels can induce a state of sensitization in exposed workers and only in exceptional situations cause severe intoxication. Three cases are reported--one suffering from urticaria/angio-edema, one from asthma and the other from oculo-rhinitis. Only one subject was atopical. The substances to which sensitization was found were Cynoxamil, Mancozeb, Thiophanate, Seccatutto for the first case, Paraquat for the second and Dodine for the third subject. The results suggest the need to extend allergological tests also to pesticides when workers, or subjects in any case exposed, show clinical signs with suspected immunological pathogenesis. Furthermore, in order to reduce the number of new cases of pesticide allergy, a more severe control also of subjects exposed to low doses is proposed.