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Health effects of Pesticides

Reproductive effects

A trend over the past 60 years has shown a decrease in human reproductive health. The Organochlorine pesticides currently in use are related to DDT, aldrin, chlordane, HCB, and mirex. These pesticides in the body leave metabolic isomers in the body that are harmful. The liver is an organ that contains cells with large concentrations of Golgi apparatuses. The liver fixes the pesticides to the lipids to the regions of the body that have high concentrations of fat deposits, such as the mammary glands and testes. The accumulation of pesticides stored in the reproductive tissues could disrupt the endocrine hormones that participate in sexual reproduction.

Rachel Carson first drew attention to the subject of reproductive disruption by studying the biomagnification of DDT in raptor populations. Her findings showed a direct relationship between pesticides and endangerment of large bird species.

“For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals from the moment of conception until death… For these chemicals are now stored in the bodies of a vast majority of human beings regardless of age. They occur in mothers’ milk and probably in the tissues of the unborn child”.

How research is conducted

Typically a cohort study is conducted on a group of people exposed to a known amount of pesticides. For both males and females, a profile of the individual is recorded in regard to use of narcotics, nicotine, or other addictive and stimulating substances. Blood samples are often taken as well as serum tests. History of prior complications with conception is recorded. Males have their semen analyzed. Women have the maternal serum studied as well as their follicular fluid.

Male reproduction

The male germline is extremely sensitive to the damage that can be caused by environmental toxins. Increased incidence of cryptorchidism, testicular cancer, asthenospermia, ogliosperma, teratospermia and congenital anomalies have been linked to the use of environmental chemicals. The pesticides act as endocrine disruptors and block sex hormones from functioning properly. It is typical for researchers to compare test subjects exposed to pesticides and a control group who was not. In such studies it is typically found that subjects exposed to pesticides have gonadosomatic indices asthenospermia, ogliosperma, teratospermia, and higher concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone. It is usual for studies to show the effect on the male system of the banned chemicals such as dieldrin, aldrin, and DDT. A number of pesticides including dibromochlorophane and 2,4-D has been associated with impaired fertility in males.[20]

Female reproduction

It has been suggested that the time taken for conception is related to pesticide levels in the female body. Non human studies have investigated the implications of endocrine disruption from pesticide exposure. Bovine studies show that fertility was decreased in the cows that had high levels of EDCs. Milk and maternal serum were tested to test for massive lipolysis of PCB’s that can increase the concentrations of EDC’s. The studied showed similar results to a human study and the scientists determined that bovine models can be important in the study of EDC effects on humans.

Fetal effects

Strong evidence links pesticide exposure to birth defects, fetal death and altered fetal growth.[3] In the United States, increase in birth defects is associated with conceiving in the same period of the year when agrochemicals are in elevated concentrations in surface water.[17] Agent orange, a 50:50 mixture of 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D, has been associated with increased birth defects in Vietnam.[18][19]. The blood circulating from mother to fetus has been shown to contain pesticides such as organnochlorines.

The chemicals enter the placenta and are then transferred directly to the fetus. Environmental exposure to pesticides of the mother causes the accumulation of toxins in the umbilical serum. The fetus is exposed to the same blood concentration of chemicals as the mother, the amounts equilibrate. Pesticides are neurotoxins and thus could potentially effect the fetus as such. Studies conducted on infants test umbilical cord blood as well as infant hair to identify what pesticided passed through the placental barrier. Because the mothers blood and the fetuses equilibrate, the fetus is quickly experiences an influx of chemicals. Exposure seemingly causes the greatest impact on fetal development between 3-8 weeks. The general cause of fetal exposure is through the mother’s daily exposure to small amounts of pesticides. The odd of complication increase within a 1 mile radius of exposure. Heavy exposure can often lead to miscarriage.

 How to avoid exposure

All fruits and vegetables need to be washed before consumption. Soap should not be used. Peeling produce will help discard of the tissues layers exposed directly to the chemicals. Meat should be trimmed of fat. A eating a variety of food should be eaten because specific crops need specific pesticides.