Pesticides are heavily used in conventional farms to protect food crops. But according to a recent study, about a third of global farmland today is at high risk of pesticide pollution. Published Monday in Nature Geoscience, the study revealed that Asia houses the largest land areas that face an increased risk of pesticide pollution in countries like China, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines. Furthermore, … Continue reading Nearly one-third of global agricultural land at high risk of pesticide pollution, study reveals
Top 10 foods and beverages you probably had NO IDEA contain chemical pesticides
Are you eating pest killer food? Would you eat a plate of food if someone accidentally sprayed the whole dish with bug killer or weed killer? Are you one of those people who think there’s no cure for cancer, while you consume pesticides all day long? If you don’t want to die like a roach in … Continue reading Top 10 foods and beverages you probably had NO IDEA contain chemical pesticides
Glyphosate disrupts gut microbiome – even at “safe” doses
Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Bayer AG’s weed-killer Roundup, is the most commonly used herbicide in the United States. Although its effects on wildlife and the environment are well-documented, its impact on humans remains controversial. But that may soon change, thanks to a recent study by a team of European researchers. Published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, it showed that exposure … Continue reading Glyphosate disrupts gut microbiome – even at “safe” doses
EPA approves use of toxic pesticide previously banned for use on citrus
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Jan. 12 that it approved the use of aldicarb, a toxic pesticide it had banned in 2010, and the antibiotic streptomycin on Florida’s citrus plants. The decision allows 100,000 acres of citrus groves to be treated with 2.5 million pounds of aldicarb, which has been banned in over 100 countries. It is also the only … Continue reading EPA approves use of toxic pesticide previously banned for use on citrus
Higher plant biodiversity may help discourage the use of pesticides, reveals study
Plant biodiversity serves as a natural method for controlling pests and can potentially reduce the need for environmentally harmful pesticides, according to a recent study. Researchers from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) revealed in their report that plant communities with diverse species support insect predator populations while depriving the pests themselves of their preferred food sources. Their findings … Continue reading Higher plant biodiversity may help discourage the use of pesticides, reveals study
California is going after another dangerous pesticide: Chlorpyrifos has been linked to brain damage
California is going after a very dangerous agricultural pesticide that has been linked to brain damage in children. At the end of this year, farmers will no longer be allowed to use chlorpyrifos in a move that Governor Gavin Newsom characterized as a “big win for children, workers and public health in California.” Chlorpyrifos is widely used … Continue reading California is going after another dangerous pesticide: Chlorpyrifos has been linked to brain damage
Chemicals in organophosphate pesticides cause brain damage: Study
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides, a kind of pesticide considered toxic to humans, has been linked to impaired cognition and significant changes in the brain. In a major breakthrough, scientists from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and Stanford University found that teenagers exposed in utero to organophosphate pesticides demonstrated altered brain activities during tasks that required executive control. Sagiv and her … Continue reading Chemicals in organophosphate pesticides cause brain damage: Study
Bees live shorter, become sicker because of air pollution, scientists find
Breathing in toxic fumes from polluted air is one of the major contributors to premature death around the globe as it can exacerbate lung and heart conditions. But despite the emerging threat of air pollution to humans, little research has been done on its impact on the health of animals. In one of the first … Continue reading Bees live shorter, become sicker because of air pollution, scientists find
Uncovering the truth about pesticides in food
Every year, six billion pounds of pesticides are used around the world. The effects of all this pesticide use are felt in every aspect of our lives because these chemicals are incredibly pervasive. Even if you eat organic – and you definitely should – it is still hard to avoid pesticide exposure entirely. That’s unfortunate … Continue reading Uncovering the truth about pesticides in food
Food safety tips: How to reduce the arsenic in your rice by 80 percent
Arsenic is a very toxic trace element. Throughout history, people have been ingesting it, either knowingly or unknowingly. This problem seems to be getting even worse, as more and more arsenic is making its way into people’s food, particularly rice. Rice is a staple food for a huge percentage of the world’s population, which opens up … Continue reading Food safety tips: How to reduce the arsenic in your rice by 80 percent
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 