How do herbicides affect humans? The Impact On The Human Body Of Pesticides: A Detailed Instruction. Herbicide Toxicity and Environment

Our reader, Elena, from the village of Vishnevka, Minsk region, asked the editors such a question. After harvesting from one hundred square meters, she processes them every few years with a special chemical agent from weeds. Before buying another package, I looked on the Internet to find out what, where and how much. And she discovered that in the USA, the gardener sued the agrochemical company: they say that constant contact with the Mondanto manufacturer’s roundup max drug led to the development of cancer.

He used it up to 30 times a year. Twice accidentally exposed to this chemical and seriously ill. As compensation, I sued a lot of money. And there are hundreds of those victims who suspect that the manufacturing company “deliberately withheld information about the dangers of the herbicide”! Elena, like many other owners, also processes her gardens with this drug. "It is very dangerous?" - the villager is worried.

Roundup, some sellers positioned as "the safest herbicide, which, if applied in accordance with the instructions, is not harmful to humans and the environment." Who to believe?

Yelena Yakimovich, Ph.D. In this case, all drugs that are today included in State Register plant protection products, undergo mandatory biological, environmental and toxicological expertise. The drug was introduced into it - which means that it can be used both by private owners (not all names) and by farms in the republic. There are about 30 glyphosates (the roundup also belongs to them) in the register. And all of them can be used in agricultural production. But you need to understand that on the fields of agricultural enterprises they process large areas, technology is respected. On personal hundredths, the owners are also not prohibited to use them. Another thing is much more environmentally friendly, albeit more difficult, in the garden with weeds to fight not with chemical protection, but "hand-to-hand" - armed with a hoe, scythe, shovel.

But what about the information that the use of plant protection products can cause cancer?

- If such data is scientifically based, doctors decide to exclude them from the State Register. There were cases when more toxic drugs were replaced by less toxic over time. As for security. On any tool there is an instruction that must be strictly observed using gloves, respirators, glasses, a hat. When processing is carried out, and no matter what you process, it is necessary to wear clothing made of thick fabric, closed shoes. Do not try to make the solution more concentrated in order to guarantee the destruction of all weeds or pests. After treatment, you should wash your face, rinse your mouth, take a shower. Because a large amount of the drug accumulates in a person on the face, armpits.

Scientists remind: roundup is a continuous action herbicide, all plants die from it. Therefore, glyphosate must be applied very carefully so as not to fall on the leaves of flowers, trees, bushes, beds with vegetables. Can a herbicide accumulate? The drug is low toxic. In the soil, it quickly loses activity, in the plant it decomposes into its constituent elements within a month.

By the way, glyphosate is a herbicide that is widely used throughout the world to control perennial weeds. And among the herbicides, he ranks first in production. Moreover, it does not matter what name - roundup, tornado or hurricane, the active substance is one. Today, in our republic, a tender is being held when purchasing plant protection products and herbicides. Depending on the group of drugs, concentrations are most often won either by domestic or Russian drugs.

Is it possible to grow large volumes of products on modern fields without the use of herbicides?

- On the forums on the biological protection system, organic farming, such opinions also sound: let's not use chemical preparations, this guarantees the receipt of absolutely pure products,- gives an example of Elena Yakimovich. - But in many cultures, if the plants are not treated with herbicides, weed, pest or disease control agents, crop losses can range from 20 to 80, even 100 percent! If we talk about sugar beets, then it was once watered by hand. Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides are now used. The same goes for corn, cereals. There are fruit and vegetable crops, in the cultivation of which it is difficult to manage without chemical protection. Today, modern machines are invented, which may someday be “pushed aside” chemistry.

REFERENCE "SG"

Glyphosates began to be widely used in the 90s of the twentieth century. Thanks to them, scientists say, the weediness of perennial weeds in the fields decreased by 6 times.

Pets are as much a part of our lives as a garden or summer house. It is imperative that they feel comfortable on the site. This applies not only to dogs, kittens and hamsters with which children like to bother, but also ducks, geese, goats, cows and other animals, grown for consumption and earning. Today we will talk about weed control methods that are safe for your pets.

From the article you will learn:

1 What are the dangers of gardening for pets?
2 Animal-friendly herbicides in every home
3 Note

What are the dangers of gardening for pets?

Being on the garden site, pets are often at risk due to the use of modern chemical fertilizers, funds from garden pests and herbicides. What can you do, because potent remedies have to be applied not only to farmers to obtain crops on an industrial scale, but also to simple gardeners: Ecology leaves much to be desired, the climate is changing, and as a result, pests and diseases attack poor plants from all sides.

Our task is to protect our pets. Here, isolation of animals during the processing of the plot and careful monitoring of the feed can also help - God forbid weeds from the etched part of the garden will be fed to animals and birds. We had such precedents and nothing good came of it, believe me.

Surveillance and control are relatively easy to provide for chickens, ducks, goslings and piglets. But what if it is difficult to keep track of the animal? For example, what should I do if a little York or a favorite German shepherd decides to eat weed that has rushed to the country house? There are two ways: not to let the pet out for walks in an unsafe place, which is difficult in itself, or to use products that are safe for animals.

Animal-friendly herbicides in every home

There are a number of folk methods of weed control that can be used without fear for living creatures:

Boiling water. If you have areas that need to be massively cleared of weeds, try boiling water. This method is optimal for cleaning the yard, paths and sidewalks, it is also suitable for destroying thickets of plants that you definitely do not need. Pour boiling water over the weeds and they will be completely destroyed. But be careful, boiling water kills all plants, not just weeds.

Vinegar. Vinegar works great as a herbicide and is harmless to animals. All you have to do is sprinkle them abundantly with plants that need to be destroyed. For some strong weeds may

Vinegar works as a herbicide

you need to apply vinegar treatment several times.

Salt. In small doses, it acts as a fertilizer, but in large quantities it works as a herbicide. If you have areas that you want to clean from plants, sprinkle them with plenty of salt. It will make the soil unsuitable for plants and weeds will not grow.

Sugar. Believe it or not, sugar is also an animal friendly herbicide. When used, it makes the soil unsuitable for weed growth for a short time. Its use is very convenient for the destruction of large weeds, overgrown trees and shrubs that are difficult to pull out. Just pour a strong solution of sugar on the growths that you want to lime. To protect the area from pest invasion, mix sugar with equal parts of hot pepper. Pepper will restrain possible pests.

Corn flour. Sometimes the most effective herbicides are those that stop weeds before they appear. Cornmeal contains chemicals that prevent the germination of weed seeds. Sprinkle with cornmeal the spot where you want to control weed growth. This will not harm already growing plants; it will not allow weeds to grow.

On a note

Any of the listed folk weed control products can be safely combined with each other. For maximum effect, just mix them together. If the mixture is liquid and you will use a sprayer, add a little soap or detergent.

Our pets are our friends. The main thing is that our work on the site does not harm them. Using simple products found in every home will help you make animal-friendly herbicides. They are less expensive, just as effective, and much safer than chemicals sold in stores.

I have been gardening for 40 years. Had farming experience, applied on the field. In recent years, I grow plants only for the family, I use mainly organic technology. But I’m not afraid of herbicides - when they overpower, I use them. At the same time, I am doing everything possible so that the drug does not harm the quality of my products, and that the soil microorganisms do not suffer. I will share my experience of using herbicides in a personal plot without harm to the ecology of the garden.

In all garden stores, dozens of herbicides for gardeners are on sale on the shelves in free sale.

To start...

In all garden stores, dozens of herbicides for gardeners are on sale on the shelves. They are bought up in huge numbers, but are not always used correctly. Therefore, my notes are needed for those who bought and will buy herbicides. I hope that after this article the harm from the drugs used will be less.

In the shops for farmers, the August company alone offers 55 names of the most modern imported herbicides from all malicious weeds - for all crops, in 5 liter cans. And all this is bought up and applied in the fields near your homes.

I am no less than any gardener concerned that next to my small potato field, farmers plant potatoes on the same land year after year and tons of herbicides are poured with a tractor sprayer. All living things have been killed in the earth. No one checks products for residual herbicides.

So in any case, the damage to the environment from the small ampule of the herbicide you used will be minimal. Therefore, I ask the fanatical "naturalists" after reading this article not to bother me; my task is to teach interested summer residents to do everything in science and in intelligence.

Science does not stand still, and modern herbicides are hundreds and even thousands of times less harmful to the environment than those that were used 20-30 years ago. Therefore, if the “nature specialist” scares you with the “harmful chemistry” on the Internet, check to see if he is talking about old, discontinued preparations and if he knows anything about new and less harmful herbicides.

What are the herbicides

I for myself divide herbicides into two classes.

A larger group is those that are applied to the soil, are in it for several months and, being absorbed through the roots, suppress weeds. It is more dangerous to use them: if you exceed the dose and you will make them from year to year, for example, under, then in subsequent years on this site may not grow.

The second group is drugs that are absorbed through the leaves. I love them more: getting into the environment, they quickly (usually in a couple of days) are destroyed and do not bring significant harm to the environment.

Herbicides least harmful to ecology

First, I’ll introduce you to at least four herbicides that cause minimal environmental damage.

Contains the active substance metribuzin (700 g / kg). Used on potato plantings.

"Lapis lazuli". Photo from agroopttorg.com

This is perhaps the only herbicide acting through the soil and roots, which I sometimes use at home. The drug is modern, low toxic, inexpensive, commercially available, is introduced in very small doses. In the soil, it quickly collapses to harmless products, does not inhibit potatoes (tomatoes) and completely destroys most weeds.

In the beds near the house with early potatoes, of course, I will not use it. But on the field, when you plant more than 30 buckets of potatoes and apply a lot of litter manure, you will kill your health with biting, throat, thistle, wheat grass, crawling on your knees in the beds. Therefore, I developed a very gentle technology for the application of the herbicide in my field.

Double ribbons with wide aisles (according to the Mittlider scheme.)
I plant shallow in furrows, mulch on top with manure, cover it slightly with soil and treat the soil with Lazurite using a hand sprayer. This is what potato planting looks like:

Now about the secrets of my technology. Spraying only double tape 40 cm wide, the herbicide does not fall on the aisle 100 cm wide. This aisle is quickly overgrown with weeds, which I mow a couple of times a season with a fishing line of a trimmer. It turns out that the processing area is reduced by three times - respectively, and I reduce the dose of the herbicide three times.

More precisely, the first time I reduce the dose by 6 times: I spray right after landing in half concentration. This is enough to completely suppress seedlings of biting midge, chicken millet and many other weeds.

In three weekswhen the potato comes up and seedlings of evil rhizome weeds appear (such as thistle, wheat grass), I go through the second time and bring in the herbicide again in half concentration, but not all over the field, as farmers do, but only in places where seedlings of perennial weeds appeared, directing a stream of a spray precisely on them. Thus, the harm to the ecology of my site from herbicides I reduce five times. After double treatment, there are no weeds in the furrows, in the aisles they are trimmed with a trimmer:

In addition, in my soil the organic matter is many times greater than that of a farmer. And I every 7-10 days all planting potatoes. And it is known that it is soil biota that adsorbs and processes all residual pesticides in the soil, and they do not get into cultivated plants. Thus, the harm from Lazurite in my field - both for crops and soil living creatures - is close to zero. And in practice, I see that next year the cabbage and beets planted after potatoes grow splendidly.

There are a lot of earthworms in my soil. Indeed, thanks to the herbicide, I can contribute a lot of organic matter. Weeds grow on 70% of the area and play the role of green manure - I mow them, enriching the soil with organic matter without harm to plants.

Approved for use on landings and on. It contains clopyralide, a substance similar in class to vitamins, which is very rapidly destroyed in the soil without harming it.

The drug is modern; unlike glyphosate, it acts selectively. Completely destroys malicious root shoot weeds (thistles, thistles). It successfully suppresses ragweed, highlanders, chamomile, dandelion and some other weeds and does not act on cereal grass or lawn leaves. Here are the industrial plantings of strawberries treated with a herbicide:

The drug should be used only on seedlings of weeds, choosing warm weather, when the leaves are actively breathing, stomata are open, and the herbicide quickly penetrates the leaf. "Lontrel" is quickly destroyed by oxygen and sunlight, does not accumulate in the soil.

I used it on old strawberry plantings after harvesting, on planting fodder beets and onion sets. He strictly followed the instructions, and weeds were always completely suppressed, and cultivated plants did not suffer, and small living creatures remained in the soil.

"Propolol"

Lontrel is also used for lawns, but on the lawn sown with cereals it is better to use the more reliable and effective combined preparation Propolol.

It is a highly effective post-emergence herbicide for controlling dicotyledonous weeds in lawn grass crops. Active ingredients: dicamba + chlorosulfuron.

The range of herbicidal activity: sow thistle yellow, saber, pink sow thistle, blue cornflower, pikulnik ordinary, shepherd’s bag, odorless chamomile, highlander bindweed, field yarrow, white gauze, medium asterisk and more than 100 types of weeds. The herbicidal effect is manifested on 8-10 days, the complete death of weeds - within 3-4 weeks. It does not have aftereffect.

This is a combined drug; its first part, dicamba, is similar to “Heteroauxin”: very low concentrations dramatically increase cell growth with subsequent death of the plant. Not dangerous for animals. The second part - chlorosulfuron - blocks the synthesis of weed enzymes.

"Propolol" is environmentally friendly, as it is used in very small doses and is rapidly destroyed. An ideal lawn can only be obtained with a herbicide.

But this tool has another property that I discovered for myself: it greatly enhances the effect of glyphosateif applied together. It is worth diluting the usual “Roundup” and adding to the “Propolol” solution (doses according to the instructions) - such a mixture kills on the spot both, and hard-to-eradicate horsetail, and an indestructible dodger. So, we have come to the most popular component of herbicides - glyphosate.

Glyphosate and preparations based on it

We, summer residents, have already become familiar with glyphosate-based preparations (“Roundup”, “Tornado”, “Hurricane”, “Agrokiller” and many others). They kill almost any weed. Processing should be carried out only during the growing season (on green leaves), isolating cultivated plants growing nearby (for example, covered with a film). Glyphosate quickly decomposes in the soil, so it can be used shortly before new plantings.

I rarely use this herbicide. Not because the "naturalists" intimidated me with its mythical harm to the environment. I just do not do continuous tillage from weeds. Aboriginal weeds are my friends. I am not afraid of them - if only they would not obscure cultivated plants. But some perennial rhizome weeds are my enemies. And the main enemy - wheat grass creeping.

Glyphosate, taken in the smallest doses, kills wheat grass if it is sprayed in September, on the warm sunny days of Indian summer. In spring, you will not find a single grass of wheatgrass.

Still some tips for those who want to clear the site of all weeds

Glyphosate group drugs are highly effective only when weeds have a sufficiently developed aerial mass. Therefore, before spraying it is important to wait for the full emergence of seedlings of annual weeds with good vegetative mass - the growth of wheat grass to 10-20 cm (with 3-5 leaves), the formation of good rosettes of leaves of perennial root weeds (thistles, calves and others).

The effect is enhanced in September due to the fact that the movement of the herbicide is enhanced along with the seasonal outflow of reserve substances into the root system. However, the drug does not affect the weeds that germinate after treatment, so a correctly treated area may again become overgrown after some time. True, these will be mainly annual plants.

Glyphosate group preparations are effective when weeds have a sufficiently developed aerial mass

To a large extent on the effectiveness of herbicides weather conditions. In sunny weather, favorable for the growth and development of plants, the penetration of drugs increases in them, in cool weather it weakens, and the death of weeds, respectively, accelerates or slows down.

In hot or windy weather, medication should be applied only when absolutely necessary, in the morning and evening hours. Not recommended do this job with heavy dew that reduces efficiency chemical treatment. It should be borne in mind that in hot, dry weather, damage to the leaf surface of neighboring plants is possible even by the preparation fumes.

Against annual cereal and dicotyledonous weeds, the use of “Roundup” and its analogs is recommended according to the norm: per 100 m² - 40 ml; against perennial weeds - 60 ml. The most economical treatments are those in areas contaminated with annual and especially difficult to be eradicated perennial weeds. Where there are seedlings of only annual weeds, it is cheaper to destroy them with a conventional hoe (cutting) or by loosening when hilling.

Experts write: “There are a lot of glyphosate-based formulations in every country, there are at least 100 in the world. I think that today glyphosate sales volumes exceed $ 3 billion, the market is growing rapidly ....” In ordinary garden stores, there are up to a dozen bottles of glyphosate for sale at different prices, with different commercial names and different percentages of active substance (from 24% to 60%). I'm buying liter packaging with the highest herbicide content. Then both cheaper and more reliable.

To completely reveal the secrets of glyphosate, I will cite an excerpt from an article by scientists: “There is N-phosphonomethyl-glycine, so to speak,“ classical ”. And there is a salt of diammonium phosphonomethylglycine; isopropylamine salt, which is produced by most Chinese manufacturers; potassium salt; trimethyl sulfonium salt, a derivative of trimesium. All of these forms are also called glyphosates. However, preparations based on trimesia (“Hurricane 480”) have improved toxicological characteristics. One of the most active preparations of Touchdown N-phosphonomethyl-glycine (name on the US market) of Syngenta company contains 60% salt of glyphosate trimesium and glyphosate trimethylsulfonium salt with 10–29% wetting agent.

Potassium salts of glyphosate, for example, “Hurricane Forte” of the company “Syngenta”, which contains 44.7% potassium glyphosate, up to 20% of substituted amines and carbohydrates, are also highly active. Monsanto glyphosate formulations have traditionally been highly active.

To summarize. Whether we like it or not, herbicides are sold and used by gardeners. I use them extremely rarely and in the most sparing way. Products for grandchildren are grown on their own organics, without pesticides and mineral water. But when my back hurts, in large areas with malicious weeds I fight not with a chopper and a shovel, but with the most modern herbicides that contain high-quality active substance and harmless adhesives. And not a single worm in my field suffers from this.

Many people worry about pesticides in food.

Pesticides are used to protect crops from weeds, rodents, insects, and germs. This increases the yield of fruits, vegetables and other crops.

This article focuses on pesticide residues that can be found on the surface of fruits and vegetables purchased at grocery stores.

It also discusses the most common types of pesticides used in modern agriculture and the question of whether exposure to pesticides is harmful to the human body.

What are pesticides and how dangerous are dangerous?

In the broadest sense, pesticides (agricultural pesticides ) - These are chemicals used to combat any organisms that can harm crops and products stored in stores or people's homes.

Since there are many types of potential pests, there are several main types of pesticides. The following are some examples:

Insecticides - destroy insects and their eggs, which destroy and pollute the cultivated and harvested crops.
Herbicides - destroy weeds to increase crop yields.
Rodenticides - are used to protect the crop from rodents and the diseases carried by them.
Fungicides - are necessary to protect the harvested crop and seeds from fungal rot.

Development of management practices agriculture, including the beginning of the use of pesticides, increased productivity in modern agriculture, first by two, and soon by eight times, starting in the 1940s.

Over the years, the use of pesticides has been virtually unregulated by any authorities. However, the impact of pesticides on the environment and human health began under more stringent control after the publication of Rachel Carson's book “Silent Spring” in 1962.

Today, pesticides are much more closely monitored by governmental and non-governmental organizations.

An ideal pesticide should kill targeted pests without causing any side effects to humans, non-target plants, animals and the environment.

In most cases, pesticides used are close to this standard. However, they have their drawbacks, and their use affects health and the environment.

Conclusion: Pesticides aim to kill pests without harming humans and the environment. Pesticides have improved over time, but not one of these products can provide complete protection against pests without side effects.

Types of pesticides

Pesticides can be synthetic, which means that they are created in industrial laboratories as well as organic.

Organic pesticides (biopesticides) are naturally occurring chemicals that can also be replicated in laboratories for use in organic farming.

Synthetic pesticides

Synthetic pesticides are formulated to be stable, have a good shelf life and are easy to spread.

They are also designed to effectively control targeted pests, while having low toxicity to non-target animals and the environment.

Types of synthetic pesticides include:

Organophosphates - insecticides that affect the nervous system. Some of them have been banned or restricted in use due to dangerous toxic effects.
Carbamates - insecticides that affect the nervous system in the same way as organophosphates, but they are less toxic, since their effect is faster.
Pyrethroids also affect the nervous system. This is a laboratory-created analogue of organic pesticides found in chrysanthemums.
Organochlorine Pesticides, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), have been largely banned or restricted due to harmful environmental effects.
Neonicotinoids - insecticides used to protect leaves and trees. These pesticides are currently being tested by the US Environmental Protection Agency for safety for bees.
Glyphosate, also known as a product called Roundup, is a herbicide used in agriculture to grow genetically modified crops.

Organic Pesticides or Biopesticides

Organic farming allows the use of biopesticides, or pesticides of natural origin, emitted by plants.

There are too many types of biopesticides to describe all of them in this article, but EPA has published a list of registered biopesticides.

In addition, the US Department of Agriculture maintains a national list of approved synthetic and banned organic pesticides.

Here are some examples of important organic pesticides:

Rotenone - an insecticide used in combination with other organic pesticides. This pesticide is naturally produced by several tropical plants as a means to repel insects and is extremely toxic to fish.
Blue vitriol destroys fungal diseases and some weeds. Although this pesticide is classified as a biopesticide, it is manufactured industrially and can be harmful to humans and the environment at high concentrations.
Horticultural oils - pesticides based on oils of various plants with the effect of repelling insects. They vary in composition and possible side effects. Some can be harmful to beneficial insects, such as bees.
Bt toxinit is produced by bacteria and is effective against certain types of insects. Bt toxin is synthesized in several types of genetically modified plants.

This list is not exhaustive, but it illustrates two important concepts.

Firstly, “organic” does not mean “without pesticides”. Rather, this applies to special types of pesticides that are found in nature and are used instead of synthetic pesticides.

Secondly, “natural” does not mean “non-toxic”. Organic pesticides can also harm your health and the environment.

Conclusion: Synthetic pesticides are created in laboratories. Organic pesticides or biopesticides are created under natural conditions, but can be reproduced in the laboratory. Although, of course, they are not always safe for humans and the environment.

How are pesticides in food regulated?

Many studies have been conducted to find out what level of pesticides is dangerous.

Some of these included measuring pesticides in people who were accidentally exposed to a large amount of pesticides, testing on animals and studying the long-term health effects of people who use pesticides during work.

All this information is combined to find the limit of safe exposure to pesticides.

For example, a small dose of a pesticide that causes even the mildest symptoms is called a “threshold exposure level”. “Subthreshold Exposure Level” means no negative impact and is also sometimes used.

Organizations such as World Organization Health, European Security Agency food productsThe US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration use this data to determine the exposure limit that is safe.

To ensure complete safety, they set a limit that is 100-1,000 times lower than the threshold exposure level and subthreshold exposure level.

For safety reasons, regulatory requirements for the use of pesticides set the acceptable level of pesticides in food significantly lower than hazardous.

Conclusion: Several regulatory organizations set limits on the harm from pesticides in food. These restrictions are very cautious, setting the level of pesticides many times lower than the smallest doses that can cause harm.

How reliable are safety limits?

A criticism of the safety limits of pesticides is that some pesticides - synthetic and organic - contain heavy metals such as copper, which accumulate in the human body over time.

However, a soil study conducted in India revealed that the content of heavy metals in the soil does not increase due to the use of pesticides, being equal to the metal content in the land not treated with pesticides.

Another criticism is that the barely noticeable, permanent effect of pesticides on the human body cannot be determined using the types of studies currently in use.

Therefore, continuous monitoring of health outcomes in people who are heavily exposed to pesticides is essential to establish safe levels of pesticides.

Violations of these security levels are rare. An American study found pesticides in excess of the established threshold in 9 samples from 2,344 national and in 26 samples from 4,890 imported products.

In addition, a European study found that pesticides were exceeded only in 4% of 40,600 different foods in 17 countries.

Fortunately, even when the amount of pesticides exceeds the established limits, this rarely leads to any damage.

A review of data collected over decades in the United States revealed outbreaks of disease caused by pesticides in food. However, this was not caused by the usual use of pesticides, but by their improper use by some farmers in rare cases.

Conclusion: The amount of pesticides in products rarely exceeds safety thresholds and usually does no harm. Most diseases caused by pesticides are the result of accidental misuse.

High concentration of pesticides and its harm to the human body

Both synthetic and organic pesticides are harmful to health at doses higher than those commonly found in fruits and vegetables.

Among children, accidental exposure to high concentrations of pesticides can cause cancer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism.

A study conducted on 1,139 children found that the risk of ADHD in children with high urinary pesticides is 50-90% higher than in children with low levels.

In this study, it was unclear whether pesticides found in the urine were caused by consumed foods or environmental influences such as proximity to agriculture.

Another study showed no adverse health effects of 350 infants born to women with a higher level of pesticides in their urine during pregnancy compared to mothers with a low level of pesticides.

A study of organic pesticides used in horticulture found that the use of rotenone causes Parkinson's disease at an older age.

Both synthetic and organic pesticides have caused increased incidence of cancer in laboratory animals.

However, small amounts of pesticides in products do not cause any complications.

One review of numerous studies concludes that the likelihood that cancer is caused by certain amounts of pesticides used in food is less than one in a million.

Conclusion: The detrimental effects of pesticides due to an accident or working environment can cause some neurotic diseases and cancer. However, a small amount of pesticides in products is unlikely to be harmful.

How many pesticides are in food?

The World Health Organization has created a comprehensive, accessible to everyone review of pesticides in food.

One study found that 3% of Polish apples had a pesticide concentration in excess of the acceptable level of safety.

However, this concentration is not so high as to cause harm, even to children.

The level of pesticides in products can be reduced by washing them under water, preparing and processing these foods.

As a result of one study, it was found that the level of pesticides in products can be reduced by 10-80% by using various methods of cooking and food processing.

In particular, rinsing with tap water (even without special soap or detergents) reduces the harmfulness of pesticides by 60-70%.

Conclusion: The concentration of pesticides in conventional products is almost always below acceptable levels. This concentration can be reduced by washing and cooking.

Is there less pesticide in organic products?

Not surprisingly, organic products have a lower concentration of synthetic pesticides, while providing a lower level of synthetic pesticides in the body.

A study in more than 4,400 adults showed that subjects who use organic foods have lower levels of synthetic pesticides in their urine.

However, organic products contain more biopesticides.

A study of olives grown with organic pesticides and olive oil found elevated levels of biopesticides such as rotenone, azadirachtin, pyrethrin and copper fungicides.

Organic pesticides also have a negative impact on the environment, which, in some cases, is even worse than the effects of synthetic substitutes.

Some argue that synthetic pesticides can be more harmful because they have a longer shelf life and can last longer in the body and the environment.

This is sometimes true. However, there are several examples of organic pesticides that last as long or even longer than synthetic pesticides on average.

There is an opposite point of view that organic pesticides are usually less effective than synthetic pesticides, which is why farmers are forced to use them more often and in higher doses.

However, studies prove that synthetic pesticides sometimes exceed acceptable levels by 4% or less, while rotenone and copper levels are stably above acceptable safety limits.

In general, the potential harm from synthetic and organic pesticides depends on the specific pesticides and their dose. However, both types of pesticides are unlikely to cause health problems at low concentrations in foods.

Conclusion: Organic products contain less synthetic pesticides, but more organic pesticides. Biopesticides are not safer, but both types of pesticides are safe at low concentrations in foods.

Are there less pesticides in genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

GMOs are cultivated plants whose genetic code has been modified to enhance their growth, diversity, and natural resistance to pests.

Historically, in order to create varieties with the best characteristics among wild plants, only the most suitable for agriculture were selected and grown.

This form of genetic selection has been used to create all plant and animal foods in our world.

This selection has led to changes that have taken place over many generations, but the exact reason why plants adapt so well to new conditions is still unknown. Although plants are selected according to specific characteristics, their genetic changes remain unknown to growers.

Genetic engineering accelerates this process with the help of scientific methods in order to give a particular plant a specific genetic feature and benefit from it. The expected result is known in advance, as with the modification of corn, which gained the ability to produce BT toxin to protect against pests.

Due to the fact that genetically modified crops are highly resistant, they require less pesticides for successful farming.

Although this does not make our foods more healthy, the amount of pesticides in them is very low. GMOs can reduce the harmful effects of synthetic and organic pesticides on the environment and humans.

Many comprehensive reviews of studies on humans and animals conclude that there is no evidence that GMOs are harmful to health.

There are some concerns that, due to the fact that genetically modified crops are resistant to glyphosate (Roundup), it is increasingly being used to control weeds.

In addition, some studies have shown that high glyphosate concentrations may contribute to the development of cancer in laboratory animals. Although this concentration was significantly higher than the concentration in GMO-containing products and the concentration of glyphosate when exposed to the environment and people working with this toxic chemical.

After a review of numerous studies, real safe doses of glyphosate have been identified.

Conclusion: Pesticides are practically unnecessary for growing GMOs. This reduces the harmful effects of pesticides on farmers and people living near farms.

Should foods containing pesticides be avoided?

There is irrefutable scientific evidence that consuming large amounts of fruits and vegetables makes our bodies stronger and healthier.

This, of course, is true, regardless of whether the product is grown by the usual method or using organic nitrates, whether it is genetically modified or not.

Eating homemade products can have environmental benefits, but it depends on the growing methods used in the individual farm. If you prefer to buy products from farmers, first ask about their pest management methods.

Conclusion: A low concentration of pesticides in foods is safe for health. Buying homemade products does not guarantee the absence of pesticides.

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Organic foods contain less synthetic, but more organic pesticides.

In addition, the concentration of synthetic and organic pesticides in products is much lower than the smallest concentration that can harm humans or animals. Therefore, the danger of pesticides to human health is very low.

Moreover, many studies claim that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables has many health benefits.

Try to rinse foods before use, but don't worry about pesticides.

Means for weed control (herbicides) - in particular glyphosate - must be used taking into account indirect risks, Dutch scientists said on June 1 on the pages of Science magazine.

Firstly, according to the authors, glyphosate itself is toxic to humans not so much as additives to it. Different manufacturers may deviate from the original formulation in the manufacture of the same glyphosate-containing chemical. This happened with the popular Roundup herbicide, which several companies began to produce instead of one as soon as the patent expired.

Secondly, herbicides can accumulate in the arable soil layer. So, in Europe, about 45% of arable land is contaminated with glyphosate and its derivatives. The authors of the article fear that it can penetrate into the groundwater from there, and also lead to the death of soil bacteria. It is still unknown how seriously this can affect the ecological balance.

In addition, the authors of the article urge to take into account the social costs of using glyphosate - in particular, the need for dialogue with environmental organizations that would like to completely ban organophosphorus herbicides.

Note that glyphosate (N- (phosphonomethyl) -glycine) was discovered in 1950, but its ability to destroy weeds became known only after 20 years. In 1974, it went on sale under the Roundup brand name and quickly went into agricultural use. Until 2000, the Monsanto Corporation, a monopolist in the field of agricultural chemistry, owned the herbicide patent.

Glyphosate is as toxic to cultivated plants as it is to weeds. This circumstance severely limited its use. However, in the mid-1990s, the same Monsanto developed gene-resistant crops of corn, soy, and cotton that were immune to it. Including in connection with their appearance, glyphosate production increased 15 times over the next 20 years - from 56 million kg in 1994 to 826 million kg in 2014. Today, Roundup is considered the most popular agricultural chemical.

Recall that glyphosate blocks the synthesis of vital amino acids along the so-called shikimat pathway. In animals and humans, this pathway is absent, therefore, it is believed that this herbicide is non-toxic for humans.

However, experts do not yet have a consensus on how safe it is in the long run. Thus, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) assures in its 2016 report that glyphosate is harmless to the extent that it gets into agricultural products. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggests that organophosphate herbicides, even in trace amounts, can trigger oncological diseases - in particular, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, while this is only a hypothesis: the latest research has not revealed a relationship between the use of glyphosate and malignant neoplasms.

It should also be noted that many non-governmental environmental organizations are seeking glyphosate prohibition. It is noteworthy that the same public organizations usually fight against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and herbicides.

Dutch scientists correctly point to indirect risks from the use of glyphosate, which are now almost ignored. However, the public, infuriated by pseudo-ecologists, is struggling not with these risks, which have yet to be analyzed in detail, but with invented horror stories about the mortal danger of herbicides.

In turn, representatives of Monsanto and other biotechnological giants aggressively promote glyphosate-containing chemicals, assuring them of their complete safety. All this creates an unhealthy atmosphere of cross-blackmail in the relationship between the agrochemical lobby and environmental activists.

The current situation is somewhat reminiscent of the hype surrounding GMOs: stakeholders do not want to hear about possible riskswhile exalted opponents of genetic engineering scare the average man with walking mutants. The real costs and dangers associated with the cultivation of transgenic plants elude both sides of the conflict.

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