Summary
This narrative review by Mostafalou and Abdollahi, published in Archives of Toxicology, provides a comprehensive update on the routes through which humans are exposed to pesticides and the breadth of resulting health effects. The paper synthesises evidence from epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies to characterise toxicity across neurological, endocrine, reproductive, hepatic and carcinogenic domains. It is likely to serve as a reference text for researchers and policymakers assessing pesticide risk to human health, particularly in contexts of chronic low-level exposure.
UK applicability
Although not UK-specific, the review's findings are broadly applicable to UK policy and regulatory contexts, particularly regarding dietary exposure assessment, occupational safety standards, and ongoing debates around pesticide authorisation under the UK Health and Safety Executive and Food Standards Agency frameworks.
Key measures
Exposure pathways (occupational, dietary, environmental); organ-specific toxicity profiles; mechanisms of action (oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity); epidemiological associations with chronic disease outcomes
Outcomes reported
The review examines routes of human pesticide exposure (occupational, dietary, environmental) and associated toxicological effects across multiple organ systems, including neurological, endocrine, reproductive, and carcinogenic outcomes. It synthesises evidence on mechanisms of toxicity and dose–response relationships from epidemiological and experimental studies.
Topic tags
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