Children

see children 2, Foods -pesticides in, Exposure, cancer, cancer/links and under Links between individual pesticides and cancer or pesticides and individual cancers and nervous system effects (autism)  pesticides and cardiovascular health,  liver, respiratory,  kidney and reproductive health, fact sheets/chlorpyrifos and glyphosate, safety of pesticides, hazads of living near fields, pyrethrins.,Industry shenanigans, health,.neonicotinoids

Kids and Kidney Cancer: Implication for Prenatal Pesticide Exposure    (Beyond Pesticides, November 10, 2022) A meta-analysis by the University Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada, adds to the plethora of research linking prenatal (before birth/during pregnancy) pesticide exposure to carcinogenic (cancer) tumor development. The analysis, published in Human & Experimental Toxicology, finds parental exposure to pesticides during the preconception (before pregnancy) or pregnancy period increases the risk of Wilms’ tumor (a type of kidney cancer) occurrence among children.    The report also examines occupational versus residential exposure and before-birth (prenatal) versus after-birth (postnatal) exposure. These results strengthen the finding that parental pesticide exposure before or during pregnancy correlates with increased risk for Wilms’ tumor in a child. The IRAC/WHO monographs support this conclusion and policies to stop specific pesticide use to prevent future cases of cancer. The study concludes, “Pesticide exposure in household/residential settings seems to contribute to Wilms’ tumor etiology. 

Chemical Alterations in the Body from Glyphosate-Based Herbicide During Perinatal Exposure Induces Chronic Liver Injury     (Beyond Pesticides, October 13, 2022) Offspring’s exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) preceding and proceeding birth (perinatal) induces liver damage. A study published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology demonstrates the role excess iron in the body from GBH exposure plays in liver toxicity via an increased uptake of calcium and oxidative stress.   To access how GBH exposure impacts offspring, researchers exposed pregnant Wistar rats to relevant doses of glyphosate in drinking water during the perinatal period, day five of gestation day until day 15 postpartum. During this period, GBH exposure increased calcium influx and iron accumulation in the offspring’s liver, resulting in oxidative stress and inflammation.   Therefore, the study concludes, “The GBH-induced oxidative stress in rat liver is associated with iron accumulation and may induce early epigenetic changes that could lead to adverse outcomes later in life. …   SNAP Comment: A rat's average gestation time is 21 to 23 days.

Parents’ Exposure to Pesticides Indicative of Childhood Cancer Risk among Offspring   (Beyond Pesticides, August 18, 2022) A study published in Environmental Research suggests occupational (work-related) exposure to pesticides among nonpregnant women and men may increase childhood cancer risk for offspring.    Although work-related maternal and paternal exposure to pesticides does not have an increased association with childhood cancer risk overall, exposure indicates a 42 percent higher risk of lymphoma (primarily Hodgkin lymphoma) and a 30 percent increased risk of solid non-CNS tumors in children. Additionally, paternal pesticide exposure can indicate a 15 percent risk for myeloid leukemia. The researchers detect that even low levels of pesticide exposure may lead to a higher risk of childhood cancers.

Pesticides Linked to Adult and Childhood Cancer in Western U.S., with Incidence Varying by County    (Beyond Pesticides, June 28, 2022)   For the first study, researchers took the top 25 most used pesticides identified by EPA estimates, and cross-referenced them with USGS data to determine the amount of each pesticide used by state and county. These data were then modeled against NCI county-level cancer incidence.  At the state level, an association is found between the total amount of all pesticides evaluated and both overall and pediatric cancer incidence. Delving deeper into specific pesticide types, a strong connection is found between the amount of fumigants applied in each state and the rate of pediatric cancers. Specifically, the fumigant pesticide metam sodium has a strong connection between its higher use and total cancer rate.   2nd study: The same 25 pesticides as the first study were reviewed, but researchers also included other environmental toxins like heavy metals, and nitrate/nitrites. These data are consolidated into an Environmental Burden Index (EBI), and overall environmental contamination within each county is subsequently deemed as either low, medium, or high on the EBI. Idaho counties with high scores on the EBI have higher rates of childhood cancer. As the study further notes, “The variables predominantly contributing to the environmental burden index were pesticides.” Like the first study, a model created by the researchers using these available data was able to accurately predict pediatric cancer incidence currently occurring in Idaho counties.

Study Confirms Children’s Exposure to Mosquito Pesticides Increases Risk of Respiratory Disease    see pyrethrin subpage

Pesticide Literacy 101: Truth & Advertising (Beyond Pesticides, 2021 annual forum)   55 minute video. Caroline Cox will discuss basic overview of health and environmental effects of pesticides, the underlying pesticide law, and regulatory authority. Sarah Evans, PhD will discuss health effects of toxic chemicals and what individuals can do to protect their own health, as well as how to advocate for healthier policies in their local communities. Melinda Hemmelgarn, MS, RD will discuss media literacy as it applies to pesticide narratives, framing, and messaging. Anyone can subscribe to Beyond Pesticide youtube channel. 

Household Pesticide Use Harms Infant Motor Skill Development   (Beyond Pesticides, January 5, 2022) Household pesticide use is associated with harmful impacts to infant motor development, according to a study published late last year in the journal Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. As with other pollutants in society, low-income, people of color communities are disproportionately in contact with toxic pesticides, resulting in exposures that can start early, and affect health over the course of one’s lifetime. '“In adjusted models, infants whose mothers reported household use of rodent or insect pesticides had 1.30 (95% CI 1.05, 1.61) times higher expected gross motor scores than infants in households with no reported household pesticide use, with higher scores indicating decreasing gross motor performance,” the study indicates. Household pesticide use over the last decade has generally shifted away from the use of older organophosphate chemistries to the use of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. But this switch has not resulted in safer exposures; a growing body of literature is finding that synthetic pyrethroids can cause a range of adverse health impacts, particularly in children.'

Pesticide Exposure Contributes to Preterm Births and Low Birth Weight  (Beyond Pesticides, November 18, 2021) A study published by King George’s Medical University, India, finds exposure to xenobiotic substances like pesticides during pregnancy increases risks associated with preterm birth, including a rise in cesarean section (C-section) deliveries and a decrease in fetal body weight.   All of the blood samples from premature newborns and their mothers have higher levels of  OCPs (organochlorine pesticides) than full-term newborns. Aldrin, dieldrin, and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) are the most prominent OCPs present in maternal and umbilical cord blood samples, followed by DDT, endosulfan, and endrin aldehyde. However, blood samples also contain concentrations of other pesticide types including, organophosphates (OPs) (i.e., dichlorvos, malathion, chlorpyrifos, profenofos), synthetic pyrethroids (i.e., cypermethrin, fenvalerate, cyhalothrin-L, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin), and neonicotinoids (neonics) (i.e., imidacloprid). Regarding specific birth outcomes, DDT metabolite DDE and dieldrin have significant associations with low birth weight. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) (USA) reports the preterm birth rate is increasing annually.

Persistent Organic Pollutants, including Banned Pesticides, Remain Present in all Fetal Organs Regardless of Maternal Chemical Contamination   (Beyond Pesticides, September 16, 2021) "A study published in Chemosphere finds persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are present in the serum and placenta of pregnant mothers, as well as multiple fetal organs... However, this study is one of the first to demonstrate the presence of chemical toxicants in fetal tissue that are not present in maternal serum or placental samples. Prenatal development is one of the most vulnerable periods of exposure when the fetus is most susceptible to the harmful effects of chemical contaminants."

Kids Who Eat Organic Food Score Higher on Cognitive Tests, Study Finds    (Beyond Pesticides, July 7, 2021) Organic food consumption among children is associated with higher scores on tests measuring fluid intelligence and working memory, research published in the journal Environmental Pollution finds. This spanish study looked at all exposures... Likewise, the result associating organic food consumption with higher rates of cognition could be indicative of socio-economic status as opposed to specific food consumption.' Many previous studies have shown a higher pesticide burden in children and how pesticides affect development.Links.

Living Within 2.5 Miles of Chemical Farming Increases Risk of Childhood Brain Tumors  (Beyond Pesticides, April 6, 2021) Pregnant women living within 2.5 miles of agricultural pesticide applications have an increased risk that their child will develop central nervous system (CNS) tumors, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Research by a team at University of California, Los Angeles. The results are particularly concerning as it reveals that individuals do not have to be in close contact with pesticides for risky, health-harming exposures to occur.    For astrocytoma tumors, the use of the pesticides bromacil, thiophanate-methyl, triforine, and kresoxim-methyl increased risk of tumor development. Medulloblastoma was associated with the use of chlorothalonil, propiconazole, dimethoate, and linuron. Development of ependymoma was linked to nearby use of thiophanate-methyl. In sum, the pesticides chlorthalonil, bromacil, thiophanate-methyl, triforine, kresoxim-methyl, propiconazole, dimethoate, and linuron were all linked to elevated rates of a CNS tumor. SNAP Comment: California is one of the only locatins where such a study can be performed because they keep pesticide use data. In Saskatchewan, we don't even have pesticide sales data since 2003! The transition from farmland to residential is equally abrupt in SK.  As of 20 April 2021, the number of registered products of the pesticides quoted above are registered by the PMRA: Linuron 4 (herbicide) (annual weeds in crops); bromacil, 6 (herbicide); thiophanate-methyl,(fungicide) 13. included uses for seed potatoes ((not an extensive search of uses); Triforine,2 (fungicide) for blueberries, other berries and fruit);  kresoxim-methyl 2 (fungicide) for pear scab and powdery mildew; chlorothalonil,38 labels (fungicide) formarket gardens, corn and fruit, golf courses, ornamentals and aerial applications (not an extensive search of uses); propiconazole,65 labels (fungicide) turf, golf courses. Christmas tree plantations, crops, market gardens (not an extensive search of uses); dimethoate (Cygon) 6 labels (systemic insecticide) flowers, vegetables, field crops, ornamental trees (not an extensive search of uses)

Over 100 Chemicals Detectable in Pregnant Women, Including 98 “New” or Unknown Compounds   (Beyond Pesticides, March 25, 2021) 'A new University of California San Francisco (UCSF) study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, finds over 100 chemicals present in U.S. pregnant women’s blood and umbilical cord samples. This discovery ignites concerns over prenatal exposure to chemicals from consumer and industrial products and sources. Furthermore, 89 percent of these chemical contaminants are unknown sources and uses, lacking adequate information, or are not previously detectable in humans. This discovery ignites concerns over prenatal exposure to chemicals from consumer and industrial products and sources.    The study detects 109 chemicals within blood samples of mothers and newborns, including pesticides, plasticizers, compounds in cosmetics and consumer products, pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds. Of the 109 chemicals, 55 lack preceding reports on their presence in humans, and 42 chemical compounds have little to no information regarding chemical classification, use, and source of contamination.'

EPA Fails to Follow Congressional Mandate to Protect Children from Pesticide Exposure   (Beyond Pesticides, February 13, 2020) Congress unanimously passed the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) in 1996 to increase protections for children from pesticide exposure. Unfortunately, according to a new study published in Environmental Health, the law is not being employed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to its full capacity. For most of the 59 pesticides reviewed by the study, EPA did not apply an additional FQPA safety factor and thereby missed an opportunity to protect children’s health. In fact, FQPA solidified EPA’s reliance on risk assessment calculations and mitigation measures that consistently fall short of adequate levels of protection because of serious data gaps, a failure to consider exposure to mixtures and synergistic effects, and a bias against consideration of alternatives (alternatives assessment)  that show toxic pesticides to be unnecessary.    SNAP Comment: Does anyone know whether Canada is supposed to apply an additional safety factor for children in pesticide registration?

New neuroimaging testing shows how prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides changes the development of children’s brains   (The Organic Center, Sep 23, 2019) .see organophospahte subpage

The Pesticide Generation   Children on the Front Line  (Webdoc.France24.com,original FRANCE 24 multimedia documentary has been translated from the original in French, 2019)  A court case against glyphosate and what is happening in France about banning glyphosate. "The medical community is unambiguous: Théo’s malformations are not genetic, but definitely linked to an external factor. “Right from birth, Théo’s doctors pointed a finger at pesticides,” says Sabine, who at the time didn’t make an immediate connection to the weed killer that she used at home to spray the horse paddock. “The wake-up call came later,” she remembers. In August 2008, to be precise. Just as she did every year at the same time, Sabine treated the area with Glyper, a herbicide containing glyphosate. “It suddenly hit me; I remembered what the surgeon had told me about pesticides.” Due to the teratogenic risks of glyphosate causing malformation of embryos and foetal abnormalities cited in scientific studies, doctors say the link to Théo’s birth defects is “highly likely”. “I was exposed to glyphosate at a crucial moment in my pregnancy – during the first four weeks,” she says. “I didn’t even know I was pregnant, so I didn’t take any particular precautions.'

Kids Carry Higher Levels of Glyphosate in Their Bodies than Adults, Study Finds  (Beyond Pesticides, August 7, 2019) see glyphosate subpage.

Exposure to pesticides can raise blood pressure in kids    (Sara Middleton, staff writer, NaturalHealth365, June 26, 2019)   see Organophosphate subpage

Protecting Children from Pesticides: Information for Parents (healthychildren.org, 29 Ma4ch 2017)  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement, Pesticide Exposure in Children, and accompanying technical report highlights some of the major health concerns linked to pesticide exposure—particularly prenatal exposure.

Glyphosate and other toxins in throw away diapers. Du glyphosate et des substances chimiques dangereuses dans les couches jetables pour bébés. see glyphosate subpage

Brain and Behavioral Effects of Early Exposures to Neurotoxicants  (University of California Television (UCTV), Aug 11, 2015)  There is also a significant link to meaningful tremors and learning deficits. This presentation addresses the impact of prenatal exposure to a common neurotoxicant on brain structure and neuropsychological function in an inner-city cohort of minority children. The toxic chemical, an organophosphate insecticide (chlorpyrifos), has been banned for indoor residential use in the U.S. since 2001, but continues to have widespread application for agricultural purposes. Possible moncholinergic mechanisms involve disruption of neural cell development and neurotransmitter systems, including the formation and activity of synapses in different brain regions. This presentation examines the evidence for long-term effects of prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure on neuropsychological profiles and brain morphology as measured by MRI. Series: "MIND Institute Lecture Series on Neurodevelopmental Disorders" Health and Medicine Professional Medical Education Show ID: 29838 

Common Mosquito Control Insecticides Decrease Motor Function in Infants (Beyond Pesticides, June 13, 2017) see organophosphates subpage

Exposure to Heavy Pesticide Use Can Impact Neurobehavioral Performance in Children (Beyond Pesticides, May 12, 2017) Researchers have found that exposure to heavy pesticide use during peak periods can impact neurobehavioral performance in children. The study focused on exposure to organophosphate pesticides, which have been associated with a broad range of diseases in both children and adults...Dr. Suarez-Lopez continued, “This discovery is novel because it shows that pesticide spray seasons can produce short-term alterations in neurobehavioral performance in addition to the long-term alterations that have been previously described. This is troublesome because the altered mental functions observed are essential for children’s learning, and in May-July, students typically take their end-of-year exams. If their learning and performance abilities are affected in this period, they may graduate from high school with lower scores which may hinder their ability to access higher education or obtain a job.”

Glyphosate Use Could be Linked to Pregnancy Problems  (Beyond Pesticides, April 11, 2017) see glyphosate subpage

Australian Study Finds Nearly Half of Insecticide Poisonings Affect Young Children (Beyond Pesticides, August 16, 2016) Young children are disproportionately poisoned by toxic pesticides used indoors, according to a study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Data analyzed from the Queensland, Australia Poisons Information Centre (QPIC) finds that 49% of 743 insecticide-related calls in 2014 concerned young children...A significant share of childhood pesticide poisonings occurred in very young children.

Healthy Lunches, Healthy Farms, Healthy Children (JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM Spring 2006 • Vol. 26, No. 1)

Report presents effects of pesticide exposure on children  (By Jean Ruzicka, Park Rapids Enterprise, May 14, 2016) The article is from a Minnesota paper commenting on the Minnesota part of the report Kids on the Frontline, recently produced by PANNA. Indeed, Minnesota agriculture is the most similar in crops, and likely pesticide use to Saskatchewan, barring corn and soy although more is being grown in the South every year. I would love to see a similar Canadian report, but with no pesticide use data collected and detailed pesticide use by province considered 'trade secret' by the PMRA, one could never get there. I guess we will forever remain ignorant. Don't you know "Ignorance is bliss?"

The Negative Effects of Pesticides on Children By André Leu, November 2014, Mother Earth News. Because their body mass is so much lower than adults', toxicity testing fails to adequately take into account the negative effects of pesticides on children.

Triclosan Found in Pregnant Mothers’ Bodies Transfers to Fetus (Beyond Pesticides, August 12, 2014)

Protecting Children from Pesticide Exposure, by James Roberts, MD, lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ landmark policy statement and report on the effects of pesticide exposure in children. Dr. Roberts is professor of pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, SC. video. (Advancing Sustainable Communities: People, pollinators and practices, the 32nd National Pesticide Forum, held April 11-12, 2014 in Portland, OR)  

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement Pesticide Exposure in Children (2012) " Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates associations between early life exposure to pesticides and pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function, and behavioral problems. Related animal toxicology studies provide supportive biological plausibility for these findings."

 A Generation in Jeopardy: How pesticides are undermining our children’s health & intelligence (PANNA, October 2012) In the US, more than 1 billion pounds of pesticides used annually have contributed to an array of health problems in youth...10% of children born annually in the United States are estimated to be affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. One-third of all neurodevelopmental disorders are caused either directly by pesticides and other chemicals or by genetics and exposure to environmental factors, the National Academy of Sciences estimates. Exposure to pesticides has also been linked to lower IQ levels in children.

Study Shows Children at Risk from Cumulative Exposure to Pesticides  (Beyond Pesticides, November 26, 2012) The U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk assessment process does not account for cumulative dietary exposure to the multitude of pesticides on conventional foods. 

Pediatricians Say Organic Foods Reduce Kids’ Pesticide Exposure  (Beyond Pesticides, October 24, 2012) 

State of the science on children & pesticides  Oct 11, 2012. Background document and listen to the MP3 recording from the Collaborative on Health and the Environment

Prenatal Exposure to Widely Used Pesticide Ingredient Linked to Childhood Cough (Beyond Pesticides, September 12, 2012) see pyrethrin subpage

Common Herbicide May Increase Risk of Rare Disorder in Infants (Beyond Pesticides, October 2, 2012) The herbicide atrazine may be linked to an amplified risk of choanal atresia, a congenital abnormality of the nasal cavity, according to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other Texas institutions. Choanal atresia is recognized when tissue formed during fetal development blocks an infant’s nasal cavity. Though it is a rare condition, it is considered quite serious because it can affect an infant’s ability to breathe...

Common Pesticides Associated With Lower Birth Weight, Shortened Pregnancy (April 6, 2012) see organophosphates subpage

Everyday Exposure to Pesticides Linked to Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Beyond Pesticides, May 18, 2010. Posted in ADHD, Chemicals, Children/Schools, Chlorpyrifos, Disease/Health Effects) Eexposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, at levels common among U.S. children, may contribute to a diagnosis of ADHD. This is another study illustrating that regulatory agencies (US EPA as well as Canada's PMRA) evaluate harm based on false realities about daily toxic exposure and individual sensitivities. Risk management decisions under these laws assume the benefits of toxic pesticide products to society or to various sectors of users, then make a determination that the risks are “reasonable.”...

2004 Saskatchewan campaign for reducing children's exposure to pesticides

Children susceptible to Pesticides Longer Than Expected (2009-06-22) One's PON1 genotypic profile determines how effectively the enzyme can metabolize toxins. The ability to metabolize toxins remained low in a large proportion of children up to age 7. The study authors recommend that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re-evaluate the current standards for acceptable levels of pesticide exposure. The fact that enzyme activity remained low for certain kids with vulnerable genotypes well past age 2 was surprising for the study authors.

Philip and Alice Shabecoff are authors of the new book Poisoned Profits: The toxic assault on our children. Mr. Shabecoff served as chief environmental correspondent for The New York Times for fourteen years. Mr. Shabecoff also founded Greenwire, an online digest of environmental news and was selected as one of the “Global 500” by the United Nations’ Environmental Program. Ms. Shabecoff is a freelance journalist focusing on family and consumer topics. She was executive director of the National Consumers League and Community Information Exchange. Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children video, Philip and Alice Shabecoff  (Sep 18, 2008.Politics and Prose Bookstore)   Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children

Contaminated Without Consent   (video)

Pesticide Exposure, Intelligence and Children: Preliminary Results
Patricia Moulton, Ph.D., National Pesticide Forum  (May 19, 2006)