The original of this page is to be found at - http://www.nrtco.net/~lead/pesticides.htm
This is an important paper - particularly as it reports that
DDT was still bad in the 'late 1950s and early 1960s' - and was having an impact
on human mothers.
Organophosphates
There are many types of pesticides currently available and in widespread use
which pose a danger for children. This page is not an exhaustive review
of these. This page is to let you, as a parent know, that pesticides are
one of a number of chemical agents, called neurotoxins, which can alter children’s
behaviour. Perhaps the most toxic class of brain poisoning pesticides
are the organophosphate pesticides which have been shown to alter brain DNA
formation.
Studies are only beginning to map or pinpoint the times in a child’s
early brain development, when the brain is especially susceptible to chemical
toxins. These time frames are called critical windows of development.
During these crucial periods, chemical agents such as organophosphate
pesticides, even at very minimal doses, can lay their most toxic charge.
Exposure at the “wrong” time can lead to brain cell damage, loss of
neurons, loss of synaptic development, and decreased brain cell size.
These can all occur at levels of organophosphate exposure as low as 1
mg/kg.
Researchers are beginning to clarify the window of fetal and neonatal vulnerability
to the neurodevelopmental
impacts of chlorpyrifos , an agent which used to be the
most commonly used household insecticide.
Qiao D, Seidler FJ, Padilla S, and Slotkin TA. Developmental Neurotoxicity
of Chlorpyrifos: What Is
the Vulnerable Period? Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 110, Number
11, November 2002
[Abstract]
DDT
The widespread use of DDT now blamed for silent epidemic of premature births
and low birth weight in 1950's and 60's. Investigators in the US now suspect
that there may have been an epidemic of premature and low-weight births in the
late 1950's and early 1960's due to exposure to the pesticide DDT. This
realization came to light when scientists studied the stored blood collected
from 2,380 mothers between 1959 and 1966. DDT is a highly effective insecticide
that was widely used by farmers during the years following World War II.
The blood serum of 361 of the women who had pre-term babies and 221 whose babies
were much lower in weight than normal contained high levels of DDE, a metabolite
or breakdown product of DDT. Levels found in these women were about five times
higher than those found in human blood serum today. Although DDT has been phased
out of use in North America, there are still many countries that widely use
DDT to control mosquito populations.
Longnecker MP, Klebanoff MA, Zhou H, Brock JW. Association between maternal
serum concentration of the DDT metabolite DDE and preterm and small-for-gestational-age
babies at birth. Lancet. 2001 Jul 14;358(9276):110-4
[Abstract]
FREE BOOKLET Poisons on Pets,
Discover potential health hazards contained in flea and tick control products.
Studies show that exposures to hazardous pesticides, especially for children,
can be quite high. This booklet offers recommendations for pet owners
on combating fleas and ticks with a variety of non-chemical steps and/or by
applying safer products, such as insect growth regulators. Available free at
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/pets/execsum.asp.
Or contact:
NRDC,
40 West 20th Street,
New York, NY 10011;
Phone (212) 727-2700; fax (212) 727-1773;
Email nrdcinfo@nrdc.org;
Web site http://www.nrdc.org/.
4FREE BOOKLET Organophosphate Insecticides in Children's Diet.
Want to learn how to avoid exposing your children to foods high in organophosphates?
Read this 54 page report published by the Environmental Working Group: http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/ops/download.pdf
4FREE BOOKLET The Bug Stops Here Free
Booklet Here is an 85-page, free e-book, The Bug Stops Here, that provides safe
alternatives to pesticides. It is written by Steve Tvedten, and is free in both
HTML and PDF formats:
http://www.thebestcontrol.com/bugstop/index.htm;
http://www.thebestcontrol.com/bugstop/bugstops.pdf.
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always
been specifically authorized by the copyright owner - or on which copyright
has expired. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance
understanding of environmental, political, human rights, health, economic, democracy,
scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair
use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the
US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material
on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and educational
purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your
own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.