U.S. residents carry unhealthy levels of pesticides, study finds

U.S. residents carry unhealthy levels of pesticides, study finds

By TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated 4:36 am PDT Tuesday, May 11, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Many U.S. residents carry unhealthy levels of pesticides in their bodies, with children, women and Mexican Americans disproportionately exposed to the toxic chemicals, according to a study released Tuesday.

The Pesticide Action Network analyzed data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a study of more than 2,648 people tested for levels of 34 pesticides, the environmental group said.

The PAN study - called "Chemical Trespass: Pesticides in Our Bodies and Corporate Accountability" - found that a large percentage of people who had their blood and urine tested carried pesticides above levels considered safe by government health and environmental agencies.

snip...
San Francisco-based PAN, which advocates for alternatives to pesticide use for pest control, found that the average person in the study carried 13 of the 23 pesticides they evaluated. Many of the pesticides have been linked to infertility, birth defects, cancer and other serious health ailments, said Margaret Reeves, a senior scientist at PAN.

more... http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/9250688p-10175859c.html

scary stuff...

the chemical companies (hello Dow Chemical) are
slowly, quietly and legally killing us all.

Throuch many various nefarious corporate lobbying efforts, the chemical companies have been killing us for years.

Don't forget that to the Repugs, "tort reform" just means the little people can't sue the big companies.

Produces legal chemicals. The study clearly stated that the researchers couldn't explain the increases in pesticides in some peoples blood. Washing all produce before consumption greatly reduces the chances of ingestion. The mention of high levels in the Hispanic population could be directly related to farm workers. Anyone working in the fields will have a higher exposure level to pesticides. PPE could go along way in reducing exposure. Farmers have become more and more reliant on pesticides. It seems the more you use the more you have to use. The stuff is finding it's way into the water supply and this is a major problem.

write-off.

and people are wondering why the cancer rate is so high?

swore that they would never find a cure for cancer. She would say that there was just too much money to be made by doctors and drug companies.

You have one corporation making money while making you sick, then another making money while "trying" to keep you alive.

Crazy.

nt

somebody should do a study on that.

Epidemic levels of stupidity in the U.S.

it is definitely making them sick. My mom was diagnosed with non Hodgkins lymphoma in 1999. She lives in NJ. Her oncologists say that pesticide and herbicide exposure are making this type of cancer one of the fastest growing cancer rates now.