And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Children's Health http://www.ivanhoe.com/docs/thisweekonly/childrenshealth.html Pesticides, Fertilizers and Your Child's Health by Lara Pullen If you live in an agricultural community, you're familiar with the sight of farmers working in the fields and the promise of fresh produce. A recent study from the University of Wisconsin has demonstrated, however, that there is a down side to this cultivation of life. The mixture of pesticides and fertilizers that seep from the fields to the groundwater may have a significant impact on the immune, endocrine and nervous systems of the people who drink the water. Dr. Warren Porter, lead investigator of the study, anticipated these results: "I am not surprised that the combination of chemicals can be so much worse than individual chemicals. This has already been demonstrated in cancer research." Amy Mucha, an environmental health scientist at U.S. EPA Region 5, is also not surprised: "I think it [the study] is very welcome. Not many people have been able to do the work in a systematic way. It would be great to see more information in the area." While the experts aren't shocked about the results, you may be. Dr. Porter found that the combination of pesticides and fertilizers that can be found in well water in agricultural areas around the country could alter thyroid hormone levels, suppress the immune response and increase aggression in mice. Since the EPA regulates chemicals individually and does not consider the potential combined effects of the chemicals, these potentially harmful levels in the water are considered acceptable. Dr. Porter's study is unusual because, unlike most toxicology studies that examine the effect of high levels of a single chemical on a single health endpoint, Dr. Porter studied low levels of several common chemicals that are frequently seen together. The study design was very complicated, but Dr. Porter believes that this more complicated approach better represents a typical human exposure to chemicals. "It is very important for people to think broadly rather than be focused on a single source of contamination," he says. Dr. Porter is also concerned that pesticides that have been previously considered "safe" by the EPA and passed traditional toxicological tests may turn out to be harmful when the effects are measured in combination with other common chemicals. He explains, "It is important for people to realize that all pesticides are almost certainly biologically 'hot.'" Amy Mucha suggests that people respond to this new research by perhaps modifying their own exposure to pesticides. She explains, "Find out as much information as you can. Make the decision based upon information, not fear. If you want to be prudent, then reduce exposure. I would be more concerned about reducing exposure to [especially vulnerable populations such as] children or women of child-bearing age." That is exactly what Ross Thomas plans to do, who grew up on a farm in southern California. He has always bought some organic produce, but now he plans to seek it out even more, "Now that our son has been sick [frequent bouts of strep throat], we are more concerned about pesticides. I worry about the effects on the immune system." If you would like more information, please contact: Dr. Warren Porter University of Wisconsin Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
