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The Effects of Dursban

Dursban is an insecticide made by Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company. According to the company, this insecticide, which kills up to 280 different pests, is for use on sod farms and outdoor nurseries. In use for more than 30 years, the active ingredient in Dursban is chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide scrutinized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a hazard to human health. Banned from home use in 2000, large-scale industrial farms still use the chemical for crops such as grapes, apples and strawberries.

  1. Direct Exposure to the Chemical

    • According to the EPA, chlorpyrifos, the active ingredient in Dursban, can have an adverse effects on the nervous system causing dizziness, nausea and confusion. In the case of a large-scale spill, this chemical can cause paralysis of the respiratory system and possibly death.

    Exposure from Groundwater

    • The National Center for Environmental Health states that organophosphates sprayed directly on crops can travel a distance before hitting the ground in the location for which they were intended. Organophosphates can stick to the soil and plants, and enter the groundwater. People who live in farming areas face exposure to these pesticides by coming into contact with contaminated water from crops.

    Exposure from Produce

    • A study in the June 2010 edition of the journal "Pediatrics" demonstrated that children exposed to pesticides in normal everyday foods such as apples, celery, strawberries and blueberries were likely to be at risk for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The study included a group of 1,139 children who ranged in age from 8 to 15 --- some of whom had been diagnosed with ADHD and some of whom were free of the disorder. The children's urine was tested for the presence of organophosphates -- higher levels of which were found in the children with ADHD.

    Wildlife

    • Chlorpyrifos can affect fish, birds and other wildlife, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. Grackles, pigeons, mallard ducks and robins are the most affected by this toxic chemical, with the duck's exposure harming birth rates and adversely affecting the health of ducklings. Robins are frequently found dead in areas where the pesticide has been spilled. Chlorpyrifos can also harm or kill bees, fish and earthworms.

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