New Canadian Literature Review Warns Against Pesticides

The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) has released the findings of its literature review of 142 scientific research studies about pesticides and human health. And based on what they found, they strongly recommend that we avoid exposure to pesticides whenever we can.

The last literature review from the OCFP was in 2004. It examined studies from as early as 1992 and also recommended reducing exposure to pesticides. The 2012 literature review examined studies from as early as 2003, picking up where the previous one left off.

Some of the health consequences of pesticide exposure suggested by the studies include:

• negative reproductive outcomes such as low birth weight, birth defects, and preterm birth
• neurodevelopmental/behavioural health concerns in children who have been exposed to pesticides prenatally or during childhood, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and reduced overall IQ
• respiratory symptoms, lung diseases, and asthma in both children and adults

Other key findings of the literature review:

• A woman’s exposure to pesticides when pregnant has a strong influence on her baby’s health.
• Three common pesticides that we should be especially cautious around are glyphosate, pyrethrins, and atrazine.

What can you do?
The OCFP studied not only direct exposure to pesticides, but also dietary, indoor and outdoor air, and water exposure. Thankfully, there’s a lot we can do to avoid many types of pesticide exposure:

• Check out our recent articles “Cleanse Your Grocery Cart” and “20 Ways to Save on Food” for tips on how to avoid purchasing products that contain pesticides. Buying organic is the obvious choice, but it’s not the only thing we can do.
• And it doesn’t stop there—you can even buy pesticide-free flowers, skin care products, and pads and tampons.
• Many Canadian provinces and municipalities have banned pesticides. If yours hasn’t, write letters to your local politicians asking for a ban.
• Don’t use home and garden pesticides.
• If you must be exposed to agricultural pesticides, ensure that you use proper protective gear and change your clothes and shoes when you’re done.