Growing Evidence on Ill Effects of Pesticides

A new study by American and Canadian researchers associates exposure to pesticides to the rising rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. Time Magazine's Alice Park has the story.

A few highlights:

Increasingly, research suggests that chemical influences, perhaps in combination with other environmental factors — like video gaming, hyperkinetically edited TV shows and flashing images in educational DVDs aimed at infants — may be contributing to the increase in attention problems.

Although Bouchard's study did not determine the exact method of exposure in the participants, youngsters are most likely to ingest the chemicals through their diet — by eating fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed while growing — according to the National Academy of Sciences.

In the meantime, Bouchard suggests that concerned parents try to avoid using bug sprays in the home, and to feed their children organically grown fruits and vegetables, if possible.

Full story here.

Posted by Shauna Lawyer Struby