Cancer rates increase on childhood exposure to ag-chemicals

Need a reason to go organic if you have kids? James Brophy – the lead researcher on this study – of the University of Guelph, ON, Canada found that women growing up on farms were more likely to have cancer than other populations. Turns out the estrogen mimicking chemicals now used in farming (and gardening) “have a profound effect on people’s cancer risk and other health impacts” – particularly if the exposure timing is right in their stage of development. In other words, if the chemical is present when biological switches are being turned – the results may be different than women not exposed to these chemicals. So the women out helping on the farm and garden were exposed as children and this exposure created problems later in life.

This of course raises the question of whether you use herbicides and pesticides in your garden and lawn. If you do and your children go into the garden or onto the lawn, then the exposure is a done-deal.

I simply can’t understand why you’d trade in your future health for a bit of convenience today.