History
Fungicides are chemical preparations designed to prevent the development or destruction of pathogenic fungi and bacteria that are the causative agents of numerous diseases. The range of these drugs is vast and diverse. They have different purposes and a spectrum of action and are available as suspensions, powders, emulsions, and solutions.
The 1960s-70s
Until the mid-1960s, the use of fungicides on wheat in Europe was small and rare. Nevertheless, when it became clear that wheat diseases cause severe damage, in the late 60s, the first leaf fungicides were introduced, specifically designed to treat infections of cereals. In the mid-70s, new fungicides for various diseases of cereals appeared, expanding the range of applications.
The 1980s
By 79, about 25% of the hectares of grain in Western Europe – and 50% in the UK – had received at least one fungicide treatment per leaf. Since the 90s, more than 95% of wheat in the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands has been treated with fungicides. The use of fungicides has become the main factor in increasing wheat yields in Europe since the 70s.
The 1990s
However, in the early 1990s, mercury, as the main component of fungicides, caused the spread of intoxication among agricultural workers and other citizens (Schneider, 2021). This circumstance forced most of the world to abandon this component. In general, fungicides are not so toxic to the human body today, but improper use can cause serious harm, especially to the blood.
Treatment
As practice shows, fungicides have high toxicity but relatively low cumulative properties. They enter the human body by inhalation and percutaneous route, and in the latter case, when working with solutions of phenol derivatives, fatal intoxication may occur. Primarily, the treatment of fungicide toxicity involves removing contaminated clothing and washing the skin, treatment aimed at supporting breathing and cardiac function, and intravenous administration of atropine.
A victim with poisoning symptoms from organic fungicides should see a doctor. If the insecticide is likely to come into contact with human blood from an open wound, the clothes are removed from the victim, and the skin is washed. The victim should try to avoid exposure to toxic substances. Doctors monitor the victim for respiratory failure and prescribe atropine and other treatments to support breathing and heart function. Intravenous infusions of atropine relieve most of the poisoning symptoms with organic phosphates.
Reference
Schneider, L. (2021). When toxic chemicals refuse to die—An examination of the prolonged mercury pesticide use in Australia. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 9(1), 1-18. Web.