How Pesticide Exposure Could Harm Your Family © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Pesticides in Your Body Pesticides are in the blood and urine of 95.6% of individuals age 6 and up, says the Center for Disease Control Pesticides can get into our body when we eat treated fruits and vegetables We also absorb pesticides from our environment via skin and respiration © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Poor Physical Development Maternal pesticide exposure appears able to endanger a child’s physical development Newborns with higher levels of prenatal exposure have lower birth weights and lengths 4-to-5-year-old children from areas that spray crops show weak physical stamina, eye-hand coordination, and short-term memory © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Poor Neurological Development Researchers found that children with pesticide residue above the median level in their urine were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD In another study, children who had received prenatal exposure to pesticides showed developmental delays of up to two years © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Neurological Problems in Seniors Farmers who apply pesticides have increased risk for neurological conditions including Dementia Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Depression Pesticide applicators with highest cumulative exposure to pesticides have a significantly higher-than-normal rate of depression © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Cancer Risk of childhood leukemia increases with both maternal prenatal exposure and childhood exposure to household pesticides For adults, exposure to certain pesticides increases odds for melanoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Diabetes Farmers who apply pesticides have an up to doubled risk of developing diabetes Pregnant women who have used pesticides in the past are more likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Repiratory Problems Certain pesticides makes some individuals more likely to experience wheeze, allergies, and asthma © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Retinal Degeneration Farmers who use certain fungicides and organochloride insecticides report above-average rates of retinal degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss among older adults © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Menstrual Problems Some pesticides disrupt the synthesis and function of key hormones For women who use the most hormonally active pesticides, longer cycles, missed periods, and intermenstrual bleeding are up to twice as common These are associated with increased rates of infertility and miscarriage © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Tips to Reduce Exposure Choose organic produce when possible Wash and peel sprayed produce Use natural pest deterrents in your home and garden Remove your shoes at the door Encourage neighbors, workplaces, and schools to avoid pesticide use © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing

© Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing Pick Up a Copy of the OHU For more on the dangers of pesticides, please pick up a copy of the corresponding OHU handout. Look to the OHU for citations to research on this topic. Share the OHU handout with friends, family, co-workers, etc. Just let us know how many you need. © Copyright 2011 Preventicare® Publishing