Abstract: Pesticides have been widely used to control pest and pest-related diseases in
agriculture, fishery, forestry and the food industry. In this review, we identify a number of
respiratory symptoms and diseases that have been associated with occupational pesticide
exposures. Impaired lung function has also been observed among people occupationally
exposed to pesticides. There was strong evidence for an association between occupational
pesticide exposure and asthma, especially in agricultural occupations. In addition, we found
suggestive evidence for a link between occupational pesticide exposure and chronic
bronchitis or COPD. There was inconclusive evidence for the association between
occupational pesticide exposure and lung cancer. Better control of pesticide uses and
enforcement of safety behaviors, such as using personal protection equipment (PPE) in the
workplace, are critical for reducing the risk of developing pesticide-related symptoms and
diseases. Educational training programs focusing on basic safety precautions and proper
uses of personal protection equipment (PPE) are possible interventions that could be used to
control the respiratory diseases associated with pesticide exposure in occupational setting.