Health Risks Of Exposure To Pesticides: Understanding Neonicotinoids, Organophosphates, And Glyphosate

In recent years, the use of pesticides has become increasingly widespread, with a growing number of studies linking exposure to serious health risks. In this blog post, we will discuss the health risks of exposure to pesticides, including neonicotinoids, organophosphates, and glyphosate.

We will also discuss ways to reduce your toxic burden through functional medicine strategies and the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on women’s health. By the end of this post, you will better understand the potential dangers of pesticide exposure and how to protect yourself and your family from harm.

The Dangers Of Pesticide Exposure On Human Health

Pesticides and other chemicals are pervasive in the environment, which is why it’s so important to understand their impacts on human health. 

Worldwide pesticide production has increased significantly since the 1950s, with only 0.1% of applied pesticides reaching their intended targets. This means that many pesticides and other chemicals are being released into the environment without any intention of achieving their intended goals.

Due to their effectiveness, organophosphate pesticides are one of the most commonly used types of pesticides. However, they can cause short-term and long-term health effects, including cancer risks and disruptions to metabolic functioning, reproductive systems, immune system, endocrine system, and nervous system, if exposure occurs from dermal absorption or ingestion through food or water sources.

These effects can be severe enough that they should be taken into account when assessing potential toxicant exposures.

Respiratory pathologies such as asthma, COPD, and lung cancer have been associated with occupational exposure to pesticides. Research has found associations between certain crops heavily treated with insecticides (such as corn) and respiratory conditions like asthma. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of potential toxicant exposures so that patients can be adequately assessed for any adverse health effects resulting from these contaminants.

Health Risks Associated With Agricultural Pesticide Use

It’s no secret that agricultural workers are at risk of developing certain types of lung cancer. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), agricultural workers are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer than the general population.

Agricultural workers risk developing certain types of lung cancer depending on the type of crop they work with and other factors like pesticide use. For example, agricultural workers are at risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure, while those who work with cotton are also at risk for developing pleural plaques – a condition in which abnormal accumulations of fluid on the lungs.

Neonicotinoid pesticides have been linked to colony collapse disorder in honey bees and may catalyze changes in an enzyme associated with hormone-dependent breast cancer in humans. 

Organophosphate insecticides have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as probably or possibly carcinogenic to humans. Increased cancer risks have been associated with various organophosphate insecticides, according to studies conducted in multiple countries, including the United States, where glyphosate usage is high. 

The herbicide glyphosate has widely proliferated since its introduction in the 1970s. It is closely connected to a range of potential adverse health effects, such as ADHD, muscle weakness, and numbness, according to numerous studies.

Glyphosate Use Linked To Cancer

It’s no secret that glyphosate – the most widely used herbicide in the world – has been linked to cancer. It’s been linked to over 70 different cancers in multiple studies. This is a major concern, as glyphosate is often found in air, soil, water, and food sources.

Studies have suggested that exposure to glyphosate may increase the growth of breast cancer cells via estrogen receptors as well as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell growth through a non-genomic pathway. In 2020 a review published by health organizations confirmed links between certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and glyphosate exposure. This caused numerous lawsuits against Bayer, which owns Roundup weed killer, claiming the substance contains glyphosates.

Bayer announced it would be pulling all its glyphosate-based herbicides off US consumer markets by 2023 due to tens of thousands of lawsuits related to negative side effects associated with the product use. We need safer and more sustainable alternatives to this harmful herbicide if we want to keep our loved ones safe from cancer down the line.

Reducing Toxic Burden Through Functional Medicine Strategies

Every day, we encounter various chemicals that can negatively affect our health. Some chemicals have been linked to endocrine disruption potentials, such as glyphosate, malathion, parathion, and dimethoate. This means they can interfere with the body’s natural hormones and lead to problems like cancer.

Education is important in reducing a patient’s total toxic burden. By bringing them an awareness of potential exposures, we can help them make better health decisions. In addition to educating patients about their exposure levels, it is essential to match them up with the right diet and food preparation strategies. A diet tailored specifically for a patient’s genotype can help induce balanced detoxification.

Eating a diverse array of phytonutrient-dense foods also helps with detoxification. These foods include green nonstarchy vegetables, red beets and peppers, orange carrots and yams, yellow summer squash, white onions, and garlic. By eating this kind of diet, you are helping to increase the mobilization and biotransformation of toxins in the body. Functional medicine strategies like these are essential in helping everyone reduce their toxic burden.

Learn More with Internal Healing & Wellness

It has been found that pesticide exposure can lead to various serious health risks, from respiratory pathologies and cancer to hormone disruption. It is essential that we take steps to reduce our exposure by following functional medicine strategies such as eating nutrient-dense foods low in pesticides and avoiding products with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. 

Women should also be aware of potential exposures due to their role as caregivers or occupations involving high levels of chemical use. By understanding the risks associated with pesticide exposure and taking proactive steps to reduce it, we can protect ourselves and our families from harm.

Want to learn more about the steps you can take to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals in our environment? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Khan at Internal Healing & Wellness to learn more about the various dangers we face every day – and how a functional medicine approach can help!