Why Aren't People Talking About the Dangers of Pesticides?

Turn on the TV and you'll be warned to stay away from everything from sharks to black ice. Anyone else feel like pesticide risks seem to get swept under the rug?  This story, for instance from over a year ago went unnoticed by our staff despite its horrific nature. The report details how 3 women who lived in the same neighborhood gave birth to 3 children, all within a few weeks of each other, all with severe birth defects. What else did these women have in common? They lived near and worked on tomato fields in Florida owned by Ag-Mart Produce, where they were exposed to common pesticides.

One child was born without arms or legs, one with a jaw that wouldn't stay attached to his skull and the last with only one ear, one kidney, no nose, no anus and other issues, who unfortunately died only three days after birth.

Dozens of highly toxic chemicals were sprayed onto the fields where they worked, "... and at least three, the herbicide metribuzin, the fungicide mancozeb, and the insecticide avermectin, are know to be 'developmental and reproductive toxins,' according to the Pesticide Action Network. They are teratogenic, meaning they can cause birth defects." (source)

So the real question is, if these are so toxic to be around, why are we putting them on our food? The tomatoes in question are actually marketed to children.

For safety information on how to handle pesticides when you are pregnant, you can see this page from the American Pregnancy Organization.

Do you feel informed about the risks of herbicides and pesticides?

Labels: chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, pregnancy, tomatoes, toxic