RECENT EPIDEMICS OF POISONING BY PESTICIDES

The mechanisms of production of collective poisoning by pesticides hav e been: contamination of foods consumed by man: cutaneous contact and occupational exposure. it is possible to distinguish 4 groups of alime ntary epidemics: (1) contamination during transport or storage; (2) in gestion of seed dressed for sowing; (3) use of pesticides in food prep aration because of their organoleptic similarity to alimentary product s, (4) presence of pesticides in water or food owing to unsafe use of pesticides. Occupational exposure affects clusters of workers in pesti cide manufacture, pesticide application and crop management. Some epis odes of every kind of the mentioned groups have been published recentl y.