Pesticides are an increasing concern among populations all across the world. Even organic food, which is grown without the use of chemical additions, are suffering from the effects of pesticide overexposure. Not only are they harming our food, our bodies, and our environment, many pesticides may be non essential when it comes to keeping crops safe from insects. Here are some of the shocking facts about pesticides that everyone should know.
1. The EPA is in Denial About the Dangers of Pesticides
One type of pesticide, known as organophosphates, are endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins. One of the most common, Dow Chemicals’ Chlorpyrifos, is in use on major food crops across the US and is, in fact, the second most common pesticide residue found on food, despite being a serious health hazard and being banned in household cleaning products since the early 2000’s. Over 5 million pounds are sprayed each year. Three recent university studies, spanning up to 14 years in duration, have proven Chlorpyrifos causes organ damage, mental disorders, learning disabilities, autism, and affects IQ. The EPA is aware but turns a blind eye. [1]
2. Pesticides Are Violating Organic Farms
As more volatile, poisonous pesticides come to use in conventional and GMO crop fields nationwide, organic and family farmers are fighting an uphill battle to shield their unadulterated produce from the massive drift that often occurs from neighboring farms. [2] Fortunately for the organic movement, recent preventative programs are being launched, such as the educational/organic registration website by Purdue University called DriftWitch in which twelve states participate.
3. Banned Pesticides are Still Assaulting Our Health
A common theme you’ll find with pesticides is that one will be developed, used extensively, damaging health effects will emerge, and then the scientists will say, “Oops, guess we goofed there, let’s not use that one anymore.” The problem, or one of the problems, is that pesticides tend to be persistent organic toxins, meaning they linger. Researchers at Washington State University conducted a study looking at Methoxychlor, a pesticide banned over ten years ago. They found that a person alive today could be suffering from kidney disease, ovarian and reproductive disorders, and obesity simply because their great grandparents were exposed. [3] An exposure “drift” of disease up to four generations makes it quite apparent that chemical toxins are practically abundant in most people today.
4. Pesticide Exposure Causes Parkinson’s Disease
The University of Colorado’s recently conducted a long-term study to look at statewide pesticide exposure in connection with occurrence rates of Parkinson’s disease and a significant correlation was revealed. [4] Researchers tracked atrazine — a common pesticide used across the US — via groundwater records. Along these records, it was found that Parkinson’s rates surged from 4 to 40%!
5. Pesticides are Endangering the Monarch Butterfly
References (4)
- Eduardo Guevara. Pesticide pollution threatens future of our children. The Desert Sun.
- Californians for Pesticide Reform. Background: What is pesticide drift? CPR. Fact Sheet.
- Mohan Manikkam, M. Muksitul Haque, Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna, Eric E. Nilsson, Michael K. Skinner. Pesticide Methoxychlor Promotes the Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult-Onset Disease through the Female Germline. PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102091.
- Yan Sun, Yan-Shu Li, Jun-Wei Yang, et al. Exposure to Atrazine during Gestation and Lactation Periods: Toxicity Effects on Dopaminergic in Offspring by Downregulation of Nurr1 and VMAT2. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2014, 15(2), 2811-2825; doi: 10.3390/ijms15022811.
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 
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