Humans

Two popular types of the pesticide neonicotinoid used widely on America’s foods may cause brain impairment and should be restricted, according to a recent study by a team of European scientists. Researchers from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended further restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids in the wake of new data which indicate that the class of pesticides "may affect the developing human nervous system" of children.

The neonicotinoids insecticides expose pregnant women to hormonal disturbances which could affect the unborn babies, according to a Quebec scientific study. If the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides have been studied on bees, they have been little studied on humans. However, a Canadian research organization, the National Institute for Scientific Research, has decided to study the impacts of these products on human health.

Die Biologin Rachel Carson begann ihr berühmt gewordenes Buch einst mit einem Zukunftsmärchen. Sie schildert eine Stadt inmitten blühender Obstgärten. Entlang der Straßen entzücken Schneeballsträucher, hohe Farne und wilde Blumen das Auge. Die Vogelwelt ist artenreich, in den Bächen tummeln sich Fische. Doch dann rafft eine seltsame, schleichende Seuche Mensch und Tier dahin. Bäume und Blüten verkümmern. Die wenigen, noch übrig gebliebenen Vögel zittern und können nicht mehr singen. Es sei ein „stummer Frühling“, gewesen, schreibt sie in ihrem gleichnamigen, 1962 erschienenen Buch.

Lots of recent research on neonicotinoid pesticides has focused on their deadly effects on honeybees and hives, but few have studied their possible effects on human health. Now, a Quebec research team has made some disturbing findings, including how the pest killers might affect unborn babies during pregnancy, and how they play a role in fuelling breast cancer.

Die Menschen in den Industrieländern werden immer dümmer – das ergab jetzt eine besorgniserregende Studie britischer Forscher. Angeblich soll das Team um den englischen Forscher Edward Dutton herausgefunden haben, dass der IQ in vielen westlichen Nationen alle zehn Jahre um etwa zwei Punkte gesunken ist. Für ihr Ergebnis haben Dutton & Co. die Daten von skandinavischen Soldaten untersucht, die bei der Einstellung in den Militärdienst einen Intelligenztest absolvieren mussten.

Over the past 3 decades, in a series of studies on some of the most extensively studied toxic chemicals and pollutants, scientists have found that the amount of toxic chemical linked with the development of a disease or death—which is central to determining "safe" or "hazardous" levels—is proportionately greater at the lowest dose or levels of exposure.

Pesticides are a convenient way to get rid of the pests in our homes and gardens and on the farms that grow the food we eat. Yet, the increased use of pesticides has been linked to a number of serious health risks. Some pesticides are irritating to the skin and eyes. Others, including organophosphates, have been linked to nervous system damage and to the development of Parkinson's disease. Pesticide exposure has also been associated with a greater risk for some cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Für den jährlichen Bericht des Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF) wurden 2016 insgesamt 3.448 Proben britischer Lebensmittel getestet. Bei 47,86 Prozent der 41 untersuchten Lebensmitteltypen wurden Pestizidrückstände festgestellt – 3,22 Prozent davon lagen dabei über der Rückstandshöchstgrenze.

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) there is a connection between pesticide residues and an increased risk of infertility. Even in those who are able to conceive, there is a greater risk of miscarriage due to pesticide exposures. The study examined 325 women undergoing fertility treatments—researchers found a link between those who ate more fruits and vegetables high in pesticide residues and their likelihood of having a baby than those who did not.