We talk about pesticides in hens, pigs, BUT: PESTICIDE EXPOSURE in CHILDREN!

English: Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring. Official photo as FWS employee. c. 1940. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pesticide Exposure in Children

“The ‘control of nature’ is a phrase conceived in
arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology
and philosophy, when it was supposed that nature
exists for the convenience of man.”
- Rachel Carson

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports in the
December, 2012 issue of their journal Pediatrics:

“Pesticides are a collective term for a wide array
of chemicals intended to kill unwanted insects, plants,
molds, and rodents. Food, water, and treatment in
the home, yard, and school are all potential sources
of children’s exposure. Exposures to pesticides may be
overt or subacute, and effects range from acute to
chronic toxicity. In 2008, pesticides were the ninth
most common substance reported to poison control centers,
and approximately 45% of all reports of pesticide
poisoning were for children.”

How bad has this problem become?

Pediatrics reports:

“A growing body of epidemiological evidence
demonstrates associations between parental
use of pesticides, particularly insecticides,
with acute lymphocytic leukemia and brain
tumors…Among the findings associated with
increased pesticide levels are poorer mental
development…and increased scores on measures
assessing pervasive developmental disorder,
inattention, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder.”

Pediatrics researchers conclude:

“Children’s exposures to pesticides should be limited
as much as possible.”

The higher up one eats on the food chain, the
more one consumes concentrated toxins from flesh
and body fluids of animals. Eat one portion of
broccoli or lettuce and you’ll ingest one dose
of pesticides. Ingest body fluids from animals who
eat thousands of doses, and you deliver these same
concentrated residues of poisons to your own body.

“A 1988 FDA survey of milk samples from grocery
stores in 10 cities found that 73% of the samples
contained pesticide residues.” – Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology, 1991; 47

“The pesticides chlordane and heptachlor cause
cancer, harm the immune system and may be endocrine
disruptors…their long half-lives ensure they
remain biologically active for decades.”
- Environmental Health Perspectives, April 1997

“Atrazine is used primarily as a weed killer in
the production of feed corn. This highly toxic
herbicide has been linked to many kinds of cancer,
including cancer of the breast, ovaries, uterus,
and testicles, as well as leukemia and lymphoma…
According to farming averages and data supplied
by the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Ben &
Jerry’s farmers now use thousands of pounds of
carcinogenic atrazine every year.” – Food and Water
Journal, Summer, 1998

“Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for
what it is – whether its victim is human or animal -
we cannot expect things to be much better in this world.
We cannot have peace among men whose hearts delight in
killing any living creature. By every act that glorifies
or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing,
we set back the progress of humanity.”
- Rachel Carson

Robert Cohen

http://www.notmilk.com

Related articles

• Even low-level exposure to a widely used group of pesticides can produce long-term damage to cognitive abilities, according to a study conducted by researchers from University College London and the Open University and published in the journal Critical Re (familysurvivalprotocol.com)
• Crazy things pesticides are doing to your body (sott.net)
• Study Links Pesticides to Bumblebee Destruction…Again (naturalsociety.com)
• 7 Crazy Things Pesticides Are Doing to Your Body – Waking Times : Waking Times (2012indyinfo.com)
• Pesticide-Chemical in Tap Water Linked to Increase in Food Allergies (kjens22141989.wordpress.com)
• Limiting Children’s Exposure to Pesticides (healthyschoolscampaign.typepad.com)
• Organic Does Matter: Pesticides Making US Kids Stupid (ecochildsplay.com)
• Pesticides: Now More Than Ever (markbittman.com)
• Pesticides: Now More Than Ever (opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Food Allergies Linked to Pesticides (livingwithallergy.com)