Citizens for Pesticide Reform

Promoting alternatives to pesticides in Boulder County
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The Health Risks of Pesticides
What do experts say?
 
When it comes to the health risks of pesticides, it’s important to hear from physicians and researchers who are familiar with the academic literature on this specific topic. Don’t assume that just because someone has earned an M.D., he or she is an expert on the health risks of pesticides; many physicians are not familiar with this area. And certainly, experts in horticulture are not necessarily knowledgeable about the human health risks of pesticides.

Here are links to information from physicians and other researchers who either are specialists in environmental health or have made a search of the literature on the health risks of pesticides, along with short excerpts.
 

 
Ontario College of Family Physicians, Pesticides Literature Review
Link to news release is at the bottom of the following page:
www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Communications/CurrentIssues/Pesticides/default.asp?s=1  

 

“The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) is strongly recommending that people reduce their exposure to pesticides wherever possible after releasing a comprehensive review of research on the effects of pesticides on human health. Released today [April 23, 2004], the review shows consistent links to serious illnesses such as cancer, reproductive problems and neurological diseases, among others. The study also shows that children are particularly vulnerable to pesticides.”

    


   

Mount Sinai School of Medicine Center for Children’s Health and the Environment
The seven New York Times ads provide an excellent and quick overview of the big picture of children’s environmental health:
www.childenvironment.org  
 

"Parents should limit their children’s exposure to pesticides, both in and outside the home."

 



Lymphoma Foundation of America, “Do Pesticides Cause Lymphoma?”
“Read This First” provides a nice overview for the lay person on how to interpret scientific studies:

 www.lymphomahelp.org/rr_2000.pdf  

 

“Since there appears to be a relationship between pesticides and lymphoma, then this risk factor may be partially under your control. You can choose whether to make an effort to reduce your exposure to pesticides.”

 



Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, “Reproductive Health and Environmental Exposure.”
This is a short fact sheet for physicians:
http://psr.igc.org/GBPSRPhysNat.pdf  

 

According to the fact sheet, 2,4-D—an herbicide commonly applied to lawns—is associated with chromosome damage, male infertility and/or spermatotoxicity, and structural birth defects.

 



Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, “In Harm’s Way.”
Link to full report, including executive summary, is on this page:
http://psr.igc.org/ihw-download-report.htm  

 

“Animal tests of pesticides belonging to the commonly-used organophosphate class of chemicals show that small single doses on a critical day of development can cause hyperactivity and permanent changes in neurotransmitter receptor levels in the brain.”

 

“Some pyrethroids, another commonly used class of pesticides, also cause permanent hyperactivity in animals exposed to small doses on a single critical day of development.”

 

“Children exposed to a variety of pesticides in an agricultural community in Mexico show impaired stamina, coordination, memory, and capacity to represent familiar subjects in drawings.”

 



Environment and Human Health (EHHI), “Risks from Lawn-Care Pesticides”
See press release, summary, and recommendations:
www.ehhi.org/reports/lcpesticides/

 

 "There is growing evidence of links between pesticide exposures and the risk of human cancers, including acute childhood leukemia with home pesticide use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma with exposures to herbicides," said D. Barry Boyd, M.D., an oncologist at Greenwich Hospital and board member of EHHI. "As well, some recent studies show increased rates of prostate cancer among farm populations that have been occupationally exposed to a variety of pesticides," continued Dr. Boyd. "Of increasing concern is the potential role of pesticide exposure in low doses, as well as in combinations, to exert endocrine disrupting effects causing endocrine related cancers. The long-term risks of these exposures is a worry in vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant mothers."

 


 

Silent Spring Institute
A non-profit scientific research organization that studies links between the environment and women's health, especially breast cancer.

www.silentspring.org

 

“If natural estrogen increases breast cancer risk, we must study synthetic estrogens from detergents, plastics, pesticides, cosmetics, and myriad sources in commerce today. If we know that more than 100 compounds in air pollution, solvents, and other products cause mammary tumors in animals, we must follow these clues.” 

 


 

Our Stolen Future
Tracks ongoing research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

www.ourstolenfuture.org 

 

“Common contaminants can interfere with the natural signals controlling development of the fetus.”  

 


 

David Suzuki

“Science Matters” by David Suzuki, Ph.D., July 6, 2001: www.davidsuzuki.org/About_us/Dr_David_Suzuki/Article_Archives/weekly07060101.asp  
David Suzuki’s bio:
www.davidsuzuki.org/About_us/Dr_David_Suzuki/

 

“Our gardens have become a paradox. They look beautiful, but they may harbour chemicals that are decidedly unhealthy”