Insecticides

[Guest guest]

How Insecticides Harm You

 

http://www.mercola.com/2005/may/19/insecticides.htm

 

How Insecticides Harm You

 

 

Evidence continues to highlight the danger of foods

and vegetables

made with the help of insecticides, for a study has

documented the

negative health effects these chemicals have on

farmers who grow most

of the foods sold in grocery stores.

 

Research found that farmers who used agricultural

insecticides

experienced increased neurological symptoms -- even

after they stopped

using the products. And while some insecticides, like

DDT, are no

longer on the market, others, including

organophosphates and

organochlorines, still are.

 

Facts Don't Lie

 

A survey that involved some 19,000 farmers in North

Carolina and Iowa

linked the use of insecticides to reports of

reoccurring neurological

problems including: headaches, fatigue, insomnia,

dizziness, nausea,

hand tremor and numbness.

 

Researchers examined questionnaires completed by

farmers on their

exposure over a lifetime to herbicides, insecticides,

fungicides and

fumigants, as well as their history of 23 neurological

symptoms.

Farmers who experienced more than 10 symptoms during

the year prior to

completing the study questionnaire were classified as

having high

levels of symptoms.

 

What did researchers find?

 

*

 

Nearly 3,000 farmers were considered to have a

high lifetime

exposure to insecticides -- meaning they used

insecticides for more

than 500 days in their lives.

*

 

Nearly 800 of these farmers reported more than

10 neurological

symptoms, compared to those using insecticides fewer

than 50 days.

*

 

Researchers did not find a significant

association between

neurological symptoms and other chemicals (including

herbicides or

fungicides) and found a weak association between

fumigant exposure and

neurological symptoms.

 

Moreover, since the farmers had never been previously

diagnosed with

pesticide poisoning or treated for any exposure to any

pesticide

before, researchers were led to believe the symptoms

were linked to

moderate lifetime exposure.

 

Environmental Health Perspectives April 15, 2005 (Free

Full-Text

Article)

 

Science Blog April 28, 2005

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

The results of this study may not be so surprising

when you realize

that if insecticides kill animal life forms like

insects, then they

might have the potential to harm other life forms,

like humans.

Additionally, it is well established that insecticide

exposure is a

potential contributing factor in the development of

Parkinson 's

disease.

 

So a key is to limit, as much as possible, your

exposure to

insecticides. This includes avoiding using any of them

in your home.

If you see ants in your home the answer isn't to go

and grab a can of

Raid or call the exterminator. I have actually found

that simple soap

and water to clean the trail the ants are going to

works very nicely

-- virtually no cost or toxicity.

 

It is also important to avoid pesticides in your diet.

That is why you

will want to consider eating organic foods.

 

Not only can choosing organic foods help decrease your

risk of

Parkinson's disease, when compared to eating a diet of

conventional

foods, studies have shown eating organic foods can

also lead to:

 

* Improved immune system status.

* Better sleeping habits.

* A slimmer body.

* Higher vitamin E content in your blood.

 

Although you may think of conventionally raised

vegetables and fruits

as the main culprits in terms of the problems

pesticides can cause,

conventional animal products may be even more

problematic.

 

The feed these animals are given is laced with the

same chemicals and,

when it is eaten, the toxins can become concentrated

in the animals'

fat tissue. That's why I feel it is particularly

important to purchase

the highest quality animal products you can find,

whenever possible.

 

Finally, with summer just around the corner, it's hard

to mention

insects without recalling the bothersome and

potentially dangerous

mosquito.

 

Safe, natural options for repelling these pesky

critters are

available, and it is in your best interest to avoid

any products

containing DEET.

 

Many studies have found DEET to have harmful effects.

One study found

that DEET causes diffuse brain cell death and

behavioral changes in

rats, and researchers suggest that humans may

experience memory loss,

headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain,

tremors and

shortness of breath with heavy exposure to DEET and

other insecticides.

 

Children are particularly at risk for such effects

because their skin

more readily absorbs chemicals in the environment and

chemicals more

potently affect their developing nervous systems.