Final answer:
The major categories of harmful pesticide effects are acute, delayed, and allergic option (a). Acute effects happen quickly with high-level exposure; delayed effects follow long-term, low-level exposure; and allergic reactions are individual-specific. Pesticide exposure risks are higher for certain occupations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major categories of harmful pesticide effects are: acute, delayed, and allergic reactions. Acute effects occur rapidly after exposure to a high level of pesticides, whereas delayed effects, also known as chronic effects, may not be immediately apparent and result from long-term, low-level exposure. Allergic responses are specific to individuals and can result from both acute and chronic exposures.
Acute pesticide poisoning is more common in developing countries due to short-term, very high-level exposure, often stemming from inadequate safety measures and a lack of regulatory systems. Meanwhile, in developed countries, long-term low-level exposure to pesticides through residues in food and the environment poses a significant health concern, leading to illnesses such as cancer and neurological disorders.
It is also important to recognize that pesticide exposure puts certain groups at a higher risk, including agricultural workers, retail workers, first responders, and flight attendants, among others, due to their occupation-related circumstances of pesticide exposure.