Pesticides tied to lower IQ in children

[ensho]

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/42621


Children exposed in the womb to substantial levels of neurotoxic pesticides have somewhat lower IQs by the time they enter school than do kids with virtually no exposure. A trio of studies screened women for compounds in blood or urine that mark exposure to organophosphate pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion.

These bug killers, which can cross the human placenta, work by inhibiting brain-signaling compounds. Although the pesticides' residential use was phased out in 2000, spraying on farm fields remains legal.

The three new studies began in the late 1990s and followed children through age 7. Pesticide exposures stem from farm work in more than 300 low-income Mexican-American families in California, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and their colleagues report. In two comparably sized New York City populations, exposures likely trace to bug spraying of homes or eating treated produce.
-snip-
-----------------------------------

it surely is too expensive, but, women who want to become pregnant should be tested for toxins first.

its the mothers, doctors, and teachers who have to deal with toxic outcomes.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. This is a bad thing?

We've already adapted our education system and the mass media to the lower IQs. Smart kids are nothing but trouble.

[ensho]

4. DU sarcasm is a wondrous thing

nt

[fasttense]

2. I'm so glad we went natural.

Despite the fact that bugs around here love to munch and kill our fruits and vegetables, we decided this year to officially go 100% naturally certified. No bug sprays, not even around our house on our ornamental plants. Not even on our dogs.

Our daughter is pregnant and is coming to visit. She and her babies will be safe.

[ensho]

3. kick

nt

[SoCalDem]

6. we kill ants with windex..

they die a sparkling clean death..

I know it's got "chemicals" in it, but we always wipe them up right away:)

When we bought our first house it came with 6 months remaining on the Chem-Lawn contract.. I had a 4yr old & was pregnant.. First thing we did was cancel it:) This was in 1977.. Our lawn was not as beautiful, but I did not want my son or our dog playing on that stuff

[cliffordu]

5. Now we have a clear explanation for the ultra right wing of the R's.....

[jwirr]

7. My daughter was born in 1958 and was exposed in the womb to

well water that had all kinds of farm chemicals in it. The EPA called it a chemical soup. She not only is severely developmentally disabled but she has seizures. Polluted water is dangerous in many ways.