Health
This page does not intend to cover all the recent researchon pesticides and health, but give a quick overview of various health problems scientifically linked to pesticide exposure.
Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database. Documents range of diseases –asthma, learning disabilities, birth defects, diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and cancer– linked to pesticides.
“Docs Talk”, a new blog that the David Suzuki Foundation launched in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Check it out - and subscribe! - at: http://beta.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/docs-talk/ Docs Talk will feature monthly commentaries by medical doctors and researchers on linkages between human health and the environment. Also available in French as Vert Santé.
* Allergy Planet (CBC documentary,Monday March 16, 2009) http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyemonday/2009/allergyplanet/
Report Shows Overuse of Disinfectants Is Harmful (Beyond Pesticides, December 14, 2009) A new report links disinfectant chemicals with chronic illnesses and conditions such as asthma, hormone imbalance, and immune system problems. Disinfectants are registered as pesticides.
* Body Burdens is the load of toxins which accumulate in the human body.The average North American carries over 500 toxic chemicals in his/her body, including several pesticides.
* Cancer
* Diabetes/Obesity
* Endocrine-disruption is the disruption of hormones controlling one or more body functions, mostly occuring at low environmentally significalt doses. The first thing that comes to mind are reproductive issues such as infertility or birth defects. Diabetes, osteoporosis and health problems issuing from thyroid gland not working properly are also of endocrine origin. Over 70 pesticides are known disruptors of the thyroid gland.
* Thyroid gland - The thyroid is one of the master glands of the body. Proper thyroid gland function regulates body metabolism, blood calcium levels, energy, excess fats, hormones, oxygen, weight loss as well as growth of the foetus. Some effects on the thyroid may also be considered endocrine-disrupting.
* Glyphosate (RoundUp) Adverse Health Effects/Glyphosates Dr Brennan-Rieder PH.D or here
In Saskatchewan, burning crop stubble is still common practice. In spite of extensive medical evidence of health problems identified by at least one Commission studying the problem in the past, burning is still common place. While the number and frequency of pesticide used may not be as high as it is in grass seed production, I am certain that pesticide residues are attached to the stubble burning smoke. Not only is the smoke an issue in itself, the negative healh effects are worsened when it contains pesticides.