Pesticides can 'double' the risk of asthma

Exposure to pesticidal chemical sprays doubles the risk of developing asthma, researchers have found.

In the first study of its kind, scientists discovered adults who come into contact with pesticides are at a higher risk of developing respiratory problems.


The findings will further heighten concerns about the impact of chemical sprays on food and the proximity of schools and homes to farms where they are used.
Last week, an official report showed 2 per cent of food sold in Britain contains illegal levels of chemical pesticides. Traces were also found in a third of fruit, vegetables, milk and meat.

Five million Britons suffer from asthma and the number is growing. The condition afflicts nearly a million children, around one in ten.

Past studies have linked asthma to second-hand tobacco smoke, poor diet and obesity. Traffic fumes and smoke have also been shown to worsen symptoms.

The study of 20,000 American farmers was presented yesterday at the European Respiratory Society's annual congress in Stockholm.

It found farmers who used the most pesticides were at the highest risk, even after their age, weight and smoking history were taken into account.

During the study, 452 farmers aged 30 and over developed asthma. Farmers in Iowa and North Carolina, who used around 16 chemical sprays, were found to be most at risk.

Although some of the sprays being used at the time have been withdrawn on U.S. and British farms, others - including the fungicide captan and the insecticide lindane - are still sprayed on crops.

Exposure to the pesticide coumaphos doubled the risk of a farmer suffering from asthma, the study added.

A spokesman for the researchers said: "The possible scope of the link between pesticides and adult-onset asthma raises a problem of broader interest, given the considerable quant*t*es of pesticides used in the domestic and urban environments.

"Their impact on a population which, while less exposed, has a greater risk of allergies and a higher prevalence of asthma, remains to be determined."

Dr Noemi Eiser, of the British Lung Foundation, said: "Understanding what triggers someone's asthma attack can be immensely helpful when it comes to managing the condition.

"But it also emphasises how important it is for farmers to get themselves checked out and, if they have asthma, to always carry any necessary medication with them."

Lord Melchett, of the Soil Association, said: "There is something very rotten with the state of pesticide safety regulation.

"The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recently criticised the regulators for overstating the certainty of safety and ignoring the wide variety of scientific views."

source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=482212&in_page_id=1774

-----

created by: Homura-sama

buti na lang wala ako asthma at di rin ako magsasaka.
nyahahah

-----

Eh kaya nga advisable na magtakip ng panyo or mask sa ilong at bibig plus gumamit ng gloves at wag kakamayin kasi nga masama ang epekto nito sa katawan..

-----

First of all... ang ganda ng babae sa pic! hehe... pero, meron bang harmless pesticide? Dati may mga advertisements claiming na harmless daw pesticide nila pero to find out na hindi pala and people using their products started to get sick. Sana lang makaimbento ng harmless pesticide na pwedeng gamiting for massive production ng mga crops. Pero mukang mahirap yun, to invent something that would kill pests but will not affect us. But anyway, with our technology...why not?

-----

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

earphone said:

First of all... ang ganda ng babae sa pic!

Agree ako sa sinabing ito ni Earphone hehehe.
Oo nga naman saan ka nakakita ng peticides na harmless.
Para mo na ring sinabi na ang Baygon ay safe at pwedeng gawing deodorant. Syempre kapag may chemicals na harmful na yan kahit ano pa man sabihin ng mga health experts.

-----

I agree with all. lahat ng pesticides eh delikao lalo nasa mga bata kahit wala silang asthma. sa amin i always prefer not to use pesticides at kung ano-anong pabango na ini-i-spray.

-----
"If you cant Dazzle em' wit Brilliance, Buffle em' wit Bullsh*t"

Wala naman ako asthma. So safe

hahaha...sama meron nga...
hindi kayo... hehehe
just a warning for some people have asthma...

-----

created by: Homura-sama

ibayong pagiingat na lang para sa lahat... siguraduhin ang tamang paggamit ng mga pesticides at itabi sa tamang lugar kung di kailangan..

^^ salamat sa impormasyon ser jhay..

-----

buti na lang nawala na yung hika ng kapitbahay kong maingay

Si mameeyoh may hika kahit di siya magsasaka hehehe. mahal nga gamot niya yung seretide...

wala pa akong nabalitaan an pesticide na hindi harmful hehehe. Pero malay niyo meron na di lang natin alam....

-----

[70:19] Kohlantha, [69:19] Landokian, [71:19] Alkemiya, [70:22] Pilipinas

dobleng ingat na lang nang hindi maperwisyo.

-----
kung ayaw mo hwag mo....