Pesticides
are substances that are used to control “pests” that include
insects and other organisms that are harmful to cultivated plants and
animals. Unfortunately, these toxic poisonous substances that are
used to kill targeted pests, are exposed to non-pest like beings-us
humans! Pesticides are poisonous and continual exposure to it can
lead to a list of harmful health effects. An increasing number of
studies have revealed a direct link between pesticides and serious
illnesses like cancer and respiratory problems. 

Exposure
to Human Health

Exposures
to pesticides can occur in many ways unimagined ever and some of the
common exposures that harm humans include:

• Farmers
  and workers exposed to pesticides first hand in agriculture through
  the treatment of crops.
  
• Residents
  in rural areas living next door to these farms
  
• Exposures
  through forestry 
  
• Exposures
  through professional and domestic pest control
  
• Exposures
  through wood treatment with preservatives, treatment of boat hulls
  
• Exposure
  through the treatment of livestock to prevent parasites. 
  

In
urban areas, the exposure may feel more subtle. However, we are
constantly in the presence
of pesticides
through the spraying of facilities like parks and playgrounds. For
some of us who have “Green fingers”, we may want to purchase
pesticides exclusively to cater to a gardening hobby. Pesticide
residues can also be found in the food we eat, which is where the
maximum risk lies as we ingest the pesticide.  Children are also
affected due to pesticide exposure, due to the food they intake or
other means like lawn, floor or the playground. They are more
vulnerable to exposure.

Effects
of Pesticides on Health

Pesticides
are known to cause two types of adverse health effects:

1. Acute
   health effects
   

These
include but are not limited to stinging of eyes, blisters, itchy
rashes, blindness, nausea, diarrhea and sometimes, even death. Acute
or immediate health effects from exposure to pesticides are those
that are known immediately to the body. It could start with
irritation of nose, throat, and skin and escalate to other symptoms.
Asthmatic patients particularly suffer from serious implications from
exposure to pyrethrin/pyrethroid, organophosphate and carbamate type
of pesticides. In several cases, acute health effects of exposure to
pesticides mimic a normal cold or flu symptom. This makes it even
more difficult to take seriously and diagnose correctly. Therefore,
any acute conditions that crop up owing to a pesticide exposure can
go under-reported often confused with a common cold. Although the
immediate symptoms may not be serious, it can often spiral into a
serious condition. A doctor may not even feel the need to assess
exposure to poisonous or toxic substances, but it is still important
to seek help before the situation progresses.

1. Chronic
   health effects
   

Health
effects that fall under this category are long-lasting. These include
but are not limited to brain and nervous system damage, tumors and
cancer, infertility, damage to crucial organs like kidney, liver,
lungs, etc. Unlike Acute health effects, these symptoms do not appear
immediately instead they span over weeks, months or even years to
show up from the moment of exposure to the pesticide. This makes it
increasingly difficult to link health impact and pesticides. 

Effect
of Pesticides starts from the Inside

While
the general toxic effects of pesticides are well understood, did you
know, they can go as deep as disrupting your cell’s mitochondria?
Your mitochondria are your biological batteries that generate energy,
assist detoxifying and support immune health. Exposure to pesticides
can meddle with its function, hindering energy production and
triggering early cell death. The
article “10
Pesticides That Could Harm Your Mitochondria”
from Microbe Formulas explains that the mitochondria organelles
inside of the cell are responsible for the conversion of nutrients
that have been absorbed from the diet into cellular energy or ATP." 
The pesticides that could harm your mitochondria are:

1. Glyphosate
   
2. Paraquat
   
3. Chlorpyrifos
   
4. Atrazine
   
5. Rotenone
   
6. Trichlorfon
   
7. Dicamba
   
8. Fenpyroximate
   
9. Ziram
   
10. Dieldrin
    

Protecting
Yourself from Pesticides

In
short, all the above can tamper mitochondrial function, impair
membranes and DNA, and messing energy production. Protecting the
function
of mitochondria
is more important as they influence genetic expression. It is also
actively involved in detoxification, brain activity and strengthening
the immune system. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to a list of
long-lasting
and some fatal diseases
like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s, Skin disorders,
Diabetes, Gut disorders, etc.  All the more reason to pay close
attention and avoid exposure to pesticides as much as possible. 

The
good news is, despite these pesticides, one can control the exposure
we have to it. There are several actions that can be taken to protect
yourself and support your wellbeing. They include:

• Restrict
  exposure
  

Whilst
it’s impossible to completely eliminate the presence of exposure to
pesticides, by choosing the right kind of food and taking measured
steps, we can avoid it affecting health. To support this, you can:

• Choose
  Non-Gmo food
  
• Choose
  to purchase or grown organic food
  
• Avoid
  using pesticides in your own garden 
  
• Say
  no to chemical bug sprays
  
• Detox
  

A
good detox of the body can flush any signs of toxins. Consuming
supplements that support a complete detox is highly recommended. Our
liver, for example, neutralizes most toxins- which would include
pesticides too. TUDCA is a water-soluble bile acid that stimulates
bile release into the gut. This allows for flushing out toxins to
exit from the body through the stool.

Pesticides-
To stay or Eliminate?

Despite
all the health hazards pesticides pose, it is considered to be a very
useful substance when it comes to getting rid of pests and weed. Its
importance is very prevalent, however, so are the health effects
caused owing to active exposure. Ensure to restrict exposure to
pesticides and consult a health professional at the first signs of a
pesticide-related impact. Even if you feel it’s a silly cold or a
trivial rash that goes away over time, it’s worth getting it
checked by a doctor to ensure it isn’t a direct link to pesticide
exposure. Also, indulge in frequent and complete detoxes to ensure
the body is able to release toxins. This is an important step as it’s
almost impossible to find the exact source of pesticide and so is
easier to release it from the body.