There is a lot of research on acute toxicity/exposure risk (why we should wear PPE and follow restricted entry intervals) of chemicals.  Also lifetime cancer risk.  There is a lot of research on the environmental fate and transport of chemicals and their degradates.  There is research on total loading and toxicity of consumption of those chemicals and degradates.

Big difference between mixing 50 year old chemicals with your arm and spraying on an open station tractor vs closed mixing systems and activated carbon cab filters.  Even if we use more chems now.


 As I recall, from environmental Engineering school 15 years ago, trace medicines flushed down the toilet was supposedly worse than most chemical exposure.  Estrogen in the water from birth control that went down the River to the next city’s water intake.  And so on.