Impact of Pesticides on Your Health


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Pesticides and Your Health




One of the most insidious and harmful chemicals in our environment today is pesticides.  Pesticides also include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and bactericides.  Most people are not even aware that they are exposed to these toxic substances on a daily basis and have no concept of the very harmful consequences they have on our health.  Pesticides are found in almost every public place, such as the grocery store, schools, office buildings, hospitals, banks, golf courses, neighbors yard, on your food and often in your own house.

Pesticides were originally designed as nerve gasses for chemical warfare.  They were designed to kill living things and when it was discovered that they worked so well in killing people they decided to use them in smaller doses to kill weeds, insects etc.

According to the World Health Organization between 1 million and 25 million people suffer with pesticide poisoning each year.  It is estimated that as many as 20,000 people in the US will develop cancer each year from the residue of pesticide on their food.

What is most horrific about these numbers is that these are people we are aware of, but the number is much higher when we include the enormous number of people suffering from pesticide symptoms unknowingly.  People with psychological disturbance, depression, migraines, pain for no apparent reason, breathing difficulties, impaired mobility, cholesterol disturbances, reproductive difficulties and a whole list of other symptoms are often the result of pesticide exposure.

The chief target organ of pesticides is the brain because pesticides seek out lipids and the brain is highly lipid with a high density of acetylcholinesterase which is the target enzyme of pesticides   They inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.  This enzyme controls the metabolism of our neurotransmitter acetylcholine.  Acetylcholine is our primary happy hormone.  It is the basic chemical that makes the brain, all the nerves and the muscles work.   Pesticides poison this hormone.  They also inhibit the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin, which is our temporary happy hormone.

The organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos also known as Dursban and other organophosphates are taken directly into our nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and long nerves) and then  transformed into chlorpyrifos-oxon, which is actually 3000 times more potent than the original compound.

Then what is frequently done is to mix organophosphate pesticides with organochloride pesticides and then they inhibit the other happy hormones norepinephrine and dopamine as well as serotonin.
 
It should be very clear at this point as to why we have an epidemic of depression in our society.  All of our happy hormones have been poisoned and inhibited!!

If your body can’t metabolize all the pesticides taken in at once, it stores it in various tissues, organs and fat and then leaks it out slowly weeks, months or even years later.  Pesticides are difficult to excrete and become stored in fat cells and can remain indefinitely wrecking havoc on your body for years.  So symptoms can be delayed and come on very slowly and therefore the exposed person may never connect the pesticides to the symptoms.

Pesticides also inhibit our other enzymes like ATPase, (which is needed for energy) which can result in chronic fatigue.  Cholesterol ester hydrolase enzyme, which creates impaired cholesterol metabolism and the enzymes that effect how the body and mind can handle stress.

In addition to the brain, pesticides also affect the kidneys, heart, liver, lungs and reproductive system.  They have mutagenicity abilities (meaning they can promote cancer cells) and teratogenicity abilities (meaning can cause birth defects).

The symptoms that pesticides can create are vast and immeasurable, but may be any or all of the following:

-because of the disruption of our happy hormones one of the most common symptoms is depression,
-they can and often do mimic psychological disturbance,
-loss of memory,
-loss of problem solving ability, mental flexibility and abstraction capabilities,
-anxiety,
-schizophrenia,
-sensitivity to criticism,
-delayed neuropathy with numbness,
-intellect dysfunction, paranoia,
-irritability, social withdrawal,
-degeneration of the retina,
-nausea, headaches,
-chest pain, dizziness,
-vomiting,
-tingling,
-numbness,
-cramps,
-chemical sensitivity, 
-chronic fatigue, 
-paralysis,
-poor coordination,
-weakness,
-auto immunity, 
-breathing difficulties, 
-muscle weakness and pain and loss of muscle control, 
-impaired mobility
-uncontrollable shaking.

Any of these symptoms can occur from one single dose of pesticide and sometimes symptoms and damage are not reversible.

Even if we avoid the use of pesticides and avoid places where they are present they can still make it into our homes and destroy our health.  I once had to move and had to throw away almost all my belongings because my neighbors who were a good 1/4 mile down the road sprayed herbicide to their fence post. 

I become extremely ill with breathing difficulties, impaired mobile ability, migraines, excessive anxiety, excruciating pain in my spinal cord and all muscles and bones, heart palpitations and uncontrollable shaking from head to toe. I couldn't sleep hardly at all for an entire year.  Four years later, the damage my body endured from this exposure has never completely recovered.

This scenario shows us that the pesticides travel long distances, are very pervasive and toxic even in small doses.

Have you experienced a pesticide exposure and need someone to talk to that understands or would you like to be edcuated about the dangers of pesticides and how to reduce your risk of exposure?  If so, you may wish to look into Cynthia's Holistic Health Counseling, which is available by phone.


Here are some steps to take to reduce your exposure to pesticides and herbicides.

-Don't use any in your home or yard.  Use healthy alternatives for ants, weeds etc.
-Take your shoes off before entering your house. 
This is extremely important, because shoes pick up pesticides everywhere they go.  When you track them into the house, their potency increases and they are more toxic than when they were originally applied.
-Avoid places where you know they spray. Golf courses are especially toxic.
-Ask your neighbors to notify when they use pesticides or herbicides and make sure your windows are closed during and for a couple weeks after application.
-Eat organic


References:

1. Rogers, Sherry, M.D. Depression Cured at Last 1997
2. Wittenberg Strubbe, Janice The Rebellious Body 1996
3. Gibson Reed, Pamela Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 2000















Some information on this web site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information on this web site or in emails is designed for educational purposes only and should not
be taken as professional medical advice. I am not a medical doctor and this information is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. With all medical conditions consult a qualified medical professional.
Web site and all contents © Copyright Cynthia Perkins 2007, All rights reserved.