According to a report from Reuters, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, through its Agricultural Health Study, interviewed and monitored thousands of farmers over a five-year period, asking them what types of pesticides they often employed and the frequency with which they used farm equipment or tractors.
According to the results, there was not an overall, statistically-significant link between heart attacks and the use of pesticides. There were six pesticides - aldrin, DDT, 2,4,5-T, ethylene dibromide, maneb and ziram - may have some connection to heart attacks, though the statistics supporting that were not significant.
A number of pesticides - carbaryl, terbufos, imazethapyr, pendimethalin, and petroleum oil - may actually be linked to lower risk of death from heart attacks.
Farmers out in the fields should keep in mind that a danger to their health may be right above them as they operate farm equipment. Because farmers face a lot of sun exposure, they may be more likely to contract skin cancer. In order to avoid this, farmers should make sure to wear clothing that covers them and should shield exposed skin with sunscreen.
