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French researchers recently identified that agricultural workers, including farmers and vineyard workers, who have the highest level of exposure to pesticides, are twice as likely to have brain cancer, than workers not exposed to pesticides are. The study involved nearly 700 adults. If that doesn’t concern you because you don’t have a farm or a vineyard, where you spray hundreds of gallons of pesticides, then read on. People who treat houseplants with pesticides also have an elevated brain cancer risk. Then what about spraying your house for ants, bees, or other bugs? What if you spray your yard for mosquitoes or your garden for bugs, will that give your family brain cancer, too?
A study of people just diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, by Stanford University’s School of Medicine in 2000, found that being exposed to home pesticide use increased the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Scientists at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, have proven using mice that the combination of two widely used agricultural pesticides, the herbicide paraquat and the fungicide maneb, creates the exact pattern of brain damage as Parkinson’s disease.
Exposures to herbicides and pesticides in infancy, before the age of one year, make children 10 times more likely to develop early persistent asthma than their peers who are not exposed. Pesticides are a known asthma trigger. Pesticides known to cause allergic reactions and airway constriction are pyrethrins, pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates. Exposure to organophosphates disrupts the part of the nervous system that regulates the motor functioning of the lungs.
This knowledge led researchers to believe that pesticides are one of the preventable causes of asthma in children. Pesticide use in schools and on playgrounds is widespread. Studies show that one in eight school-aged children have asthma and rising in pre-school aged children. Asthma may be an example of a disease caused by gene-environment interaction. Between 1979 and 1996 the number of children dying from asthma increased almost threefold.
Medical researchers suspect that a combinations of factors cause lymphoma including a weakened immune system, exposure to certain chemicals, and possibly exposure to viruses. Studies implicate a class of chemicals known as chlorophenols. One is the most popular crabgrass and dandelion killer in America, sold as Weed-B-Gone, Weedone, Miracle, Demise, Lawn-Keep, Raid Weed Killer, Plantgard, Hormotox, and Ded-Weed, among other trademarked names.
Pesticides are also called fungicides, herbicides, and rodenticides. Unwanted pests live where we don’t want them and cause harm to crops, people, and animals. While pesticides do kill insect, they include chemicals to control weeds, rodents, mildew, germs and more. Many household products contain pesticides.
Pesticides kill germs, animals, or plants that could hurt you thereby protecting your health. However, they can be harmful to people and pets. The EPA suggests you try non-chemical methods first. If you choose to use pesticides then use them as directed being especially careful around children and pets. Dispose of pesticides properly to help protect the environment and your family’s health.
American Association of Poison Control Centers in 2004 collected data finding that about 71,000 children in the United States were involved in common household pesticide-related poisonings or exposures. Remember to remove children, their toys, and pets from an area before applying pesticides and keep them away until the pesticide has dried or as labeled.
If a child is exposed to pesticides and is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or having convulsions, call 911 and give needed first aid immediately. If the exposed child is awake, conscious, not having trouble breathing, and not having convulsions, read the label for first aid instructions and contact your local Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
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Wow! Great information!
And that’s just one of the reasons I only use vinegar to get rid of ants.
I’m going to share this with the school board in my town.