Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill, repel, or control unwanted pests, such as insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), fungus (fungicides), and other organisms harmful to cultivated plants, to humans and animals. Over 17,000 pesticides are sold (PAN, 2022).
Some pesticides are used to control pests carrying diseases, such as mosquitos, rodents, and cockroaches.
We are exposed to pesticides through contaminated air, water, and food. Pesticides cause acute and chronic diseases. Protecting children from pesticide exposure is imperative to ensure their healthy future.”
—Rafael Buralli, PhD
Environmental Scientist Brazil
Only a small number of the pesticides actually reach their target; most of it leaches in the environment, contaminating the air, water, soil, and our food. Persistent pesticides, like DDT, can still be detected in humans 50 years after they were banned. Scientists have found pesticides in humans, including their:
• Blood, urine and hair
• Breast milk
• Cord blood of newborns
• Placenta
Pesticides are everywhere. Babies can be exposed to pesticides in their mothers’ womb since they cross the placenta. Children can be exposed when they play in parks or in and around their homes, or when they eat and drink non-organic foods. Children can be exposed to pesticides from their parent’s workplace or if they live near agricultural fields.
Pesticides are designed to kill pests. Unfortunately though, pesticides are poisons that also can disrupt human health, particularly children’s health. Children are often more vulnerable to pesticides because they are growing rapidly; fast growing cells take up more pesticides than slow-growing cells. As well, children often have higher body burdens of pesticides; pound for pound, children eat, drink and breathe more than adults. Pesticides can cause birth defects, cognitive deficits, and increase the risk for behavioral problems, such attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. Pesticides can also increase the risk of developing leukemia, brain tumors, and asthma.
Lower-income countries, which often have weaker pesticide regulations, still use highly toxic pesticide chemicals that are forbidden in more affluent countries. Indeed, 99% of acute pesticide poisonings – over 200,000 deaths each year – occur in lower-income countries (UN, 2017).
Governments are ultimately responsible for reducing pesticide use and availability, but families can also take steps to reduce their exposure:
Author: Pesticide Action network
Pregnancy, infancy, and childhood are sensitive windows for environmental exposures. Yet the health effects of exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) remain largely uninvestigated or unknown. Although plastic chemicals are a well-established research topic, the impacts of plastic particles are unexplored, especially with regard to early life exposures.
Author: Sripada, et al, 2022
A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests. Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects, fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds and mildew, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and compounds used to control mice and rats. Because of the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in food production, people are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues through their diets. Scientists do not yet have a clear understanding of the health effects of these pesticide residues. The Agricultural Health Study, an ongoing study of pesticide exposures in farm families, also posts results online. Other evidence suggests that children are particularly susceptible to adverse effects from exposure to pesticides, including neurodevelopmental effects. People may also be exposed to pesticides used in a variety of settings including homes, schools, hospitals, and workplaces.
PBDEs are toxic chemicals found in common household products and can have significant impact fetal brain development.
Microplastics result from plastic breaking down into fine particles often containing hazardous toxins. They exist throughout the environment.
PFAS chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they never completely break down, leaving them in our soils, our water and our bodies.
Air pollution is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. We can’t escape it, it’s all around us.
Pesticides can cause short-term adverse health effects as well as chronic adverse effects that can occur months or years after exposure.
Allergic disorders have risen dramatically over the last 30-40 years as has our understanding of what causes them and the toxic chemicals that have the greatest impact.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals are found in many common household products and can increase the risk of many diseases.
Allergic disorders have risen dramatically over the last 30-40 years as has our understanding of what causes them and the toxic chemicals that have the greatest impact.
Over a billion children live at extremely high risk for climate change events that can lead to disease and death.
Lead exposure can reduce IQ and slow behavioral development in children.
Registrer deg for å motta vårt månedlige nyhetsbrev og andre Little Things Matter-oppdateringer.
Inscreva-se para receber nossa newsletter mensal e outras atualizações little things matter.
Regístrese para recibir nuestro boletín mensual y otras actualizaciones de Little Things Matter.
हमारे मासिक न्यूज़लेटर और अन्य लिटिल थिंग्स मैटर अपडेट प्राप्त करने के लिए साइन अप करें।
注册以接收我们的每月时事通讯和其他小事事项更新。
Sign up to recieve our monthly newsletter and other Little Things Matter updates.