Why You Should Avoid Pesticides

Humans are exposed to thousands of chemicals either singly or in various combinations every day through air, drinking water, food and dust particles. Pesticide exposure can cause brain, kidney, breast, prostrate, pancreas, liver, lung, and skin cancers. Additionally, exposure to chemicals and pesticides has been linked to childhood cancers and birth defects.

Types of Pesticides:

Herbicides – used to kill plants like weeds.
Insecticides – used to kill bugs and pests.
Fungicides – used to kill various fungi.
Bactericides – used to kill bacteria.
Rodenticides – used to kill rodents.

Pesticides can accumulate in the body causing:

Fatigue
Damage to the reproductive organs
Nausea
Neurological issues: loss of memory & coordination, visual impairment, mood instability, reduced motor skills
Skin irritations
Vomiting
Suffocation
Liver & kidney damage
Nervous system disorders
Blood disorders
Birth defects
Alzheimer's disease
ADHA/ ADD
Higher risk of miscarriages, perinatal death, severe birth defects and premature birth
Cancer & Tumours
Damage to the endocrine system
Diarrhea
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Coughing and sore throat
Extreme weakness
Parkinson's disease
Developmental disorders
Sterility/ Infertility
Nerve disorders
Genetic changes
Depression
Anxiety
Higher risk for having babies with cleft palate, low birth rate, heart defects, neural tube defects, and limb abnormalities
Hormone imbalances
Obesity
Cognitive deficits and lower IQ
Diabetes
Uterus abnormalities
Early puberty & menopause
Respiratory tract irritation
Allergic sensitisation
Eye and skin irritation
Headaches & migraines
Reduced semen quality with consequent decreased fertility, genital malformations
Cysts in the ovaries
Increased risk of testicular, prostate, uterine, endometrial & breast cancer
Hyper and hypo thyroidism and thyroid tumours
Childhood cancers
Asthma, chronic bronchitis and impaired lung function
Autism
Impaired bran health
Increased risk of leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Immune system impairment
Dermatitis, eczema, psoriases, blisters & rashes

"Women who ate more than two servings of fruits or vegetables with high pesticide residue each day were 18% less likely to become pregnant and 26% less likely to have a live birth compared to women with lower exposure."

Effects Of Pesticides On The Environment

Some pesticides can stay around for years and some pesticides have also been linked to the huge reduction in the number of bees across the world, posing a huge threat to agriculture and food security, given that bees pollinate more than 70% of all crops. They get into the water supply through leaching, run-off, erosion and other channels and also destroy the quality of soil and reduce its nutritional value, causing damage for the creatures that rely on soil for their ecosystem, such as frogs, lizards, snails, birds, insects, earthworms and snakes.

How to minimise your risk of pesticide exposure

Eat organic locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Soak produce in baking soda to remove excess exterior pesticides and chemicals. (mix a table spoon baking soda in water and soak for 12 to 15 minutes.)
Know which conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are exposed to more pesticides and contain higher levels of pesticide residue.- Find out more here
Grow your own produce using organic methods.
Purchase organic tea and coffee.
Drink clean water.
Ground your body daily.
Reduce exposure to EMFs.
Use non-toxic pest control products.
Leave your shoes by the door.
Use toxin free personal and household products
Eat organic, grass-fed beef and other organic, antibiotic-free & free range meats & poultry.