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A Doctor’s Viewpoint: Pesticides
Expert Opinion
Monday, April 04, 2011
Dr. Phil Landrigan, Mount Sinai School of Medicine:
As long ago as 1979 the Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention remarked, "There is virtually no major chronic disease to which environmental factors do not contribute, either directly or indirectly."
Children are more susceptible than adults to these environmental risks because of their physiology and behavior. They not only eat and drink more but they breathe more air in proportion to their body weight. A child's increased contact with floors, soil in lawns and playgrounds, and frequent hand to mouth activity dramatically increases the chances of exposure. Children are being exposed to pesticides in their homes, yards, day care settings and schools. About one-fourth of the over 1 billion pounds of pesticides used annually in the United States are applied in these settings.
Although pesticides have played a significant role in eliminating diseases and increasing food production, exposure to these chemicals can be harmful to humans.
- Short or long term exposures are possible through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation.
- Pesticide poisoning can cause acute symptoms, which range from headaches, nausea, rashes, respiratory and eye irritation, headaches and in more severe instances burns, paralysis and even death.
- In addition, scientific studies have linked exposures to cancer, neurotoxicity, birth defects, reproductive disorders, kidney and liver damage.
Beyond Pesticides has posted an excellent resource sheet detailing the Health Effects of Toxic Pesticides as part of the Safety Source section of their website.
Many commonly used household products are pesticides. Examples include:
- cockroach sprays and baits;
- insect repellents;
- flea and tick sprays, powders and pet collars;
- products that attack mold and mildew;
- bathroom disinfectants;
- sanitizers; and,
- lawn and garden products, such as weed killers.
The potential for long term exposure, with a long latency period before onset of chronic disease, is obvious.
Parents have the power to exclude these products from their home. They must ask their state legislators to enact legislation to protect their children from exposures in schools and day care centers. Our state governments also have the power to establish state pesticide illness reporting and investigation systems. This would allow scientists to track epidemics, disease clusters, and emerging problems that may place communities at risk. We must all work together to create a safer world for our children.
Find Out More:
- Easy Steps for Avoiding Pesticides
- Canada’s Push to Become Pesticide-Free
- Got Lice? Hold the Mayo—and Pesticides!
- Wax, Pesticides, and Pathogens: Quick Tips to Prep Your Produce
Notice from 03/21/2011: EPA Warns Online Shoppers about Illegal, Harmful Pesticide Sales
Updated Date: 03/11
Posted by Suzanne on 04/17/2011 at 06:25 PM
Schools and daycares are using far too many chemicals; legislation against that would be a wonderful idea.
Posted by Marny Turvill, M.D. on 04/08/2011 at 01:15 PM
I totally agree. PESTICIDES = POISON. In addition to the illness links sited in this article, pesticides have been clearly linked to Attention Deficit Disorder. There are non-chemical ways to deal with all pests.
Posted by Carrie Elsass on 04/08/2011 at 11:31 AM
We have been very careful to avoid pesticide and herbicide use for a number of years now, so I was horrified to find upon moving to a new city a few weeks ago that they will by spraying my property for mosquitos by truck as well as plane. I was already worried about moving to this agricultural area because of crop dusting nearby, but this is unconscionable. Any suggestions on what to do? I have been in a state of anxiety and panic over this issue.
Posted by Johny on 04/04/2011 at 02:08 PM
You think I’m crazy about this stuff but there IS evidence to my theories. Love your anti-pinesol lovin’ wife.
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Posted by Norwex Chick on 05/13/2011 at 06:04 PM
The purpose of these chemicals is to kill things and they do a great job. The problem is that they are killing good bacteria and doing damage to a our kids and the environment. We need to start thinking of chemicals as poison and keep them out of our homes, yards and the environment!
Great article.