The Effects Of Pesticides On The Brain
The effects of pesticides on the brain can be severe, especially if the individual is exposed to them for long periods of time. Every year the chemical industry recalls numerous products, others are even withdrawn from the market because it has been discovered that certain pesticides are highly toxic.
Pesticides are heterogeneous chemical compounds. They are used to kill rodents, insects, weeds and fungi. While they increase agricultural productivity, their negative effects on our health can completely offset this benefit.
Today we are all exposed to a wide variety of chemical products. However, sufficient laboratory studies on the use of these products or controls on their correct application are rarely carried out, so that little can be said about the actual effect of most pesticides. Individual pesticides alone usually do not damage our health – this has been proven in toxicological studies. But a mixture of several components can lead to devastating long-term consequences.
Pesticides also appear to have an impact on children’s development. Prolonged exposure to chemicals that are harmful to the environment can adversely affect their development. In fact, it appears that these chemicals can slightly increase a child’s risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder.
Initial studies on the effects of pesticides on the brain
In 1962, the biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson published her first book, The Silent Spring . This book is considered to be the cornerstone of the global environmental movement. Because for the first time in this work, written by a scientist, warned about the harmful effects of pesticides. The silent spring sparked a heated debate, especially in the United States. This ultimately led to the ban on the previously very popular insecticide DDT.
Later, in the 1970s and 80s, several studies were conducted on the effects of pesticides on the brain. Various groups of scientists have shown with their tests that prolonged exposure to pesticides can cause changes in the central nervous system. In fact, most studies on this topic showed clear learning and memory deficits as well as motor disorders and behavior changes in the test animals.
Long-term effects of pesticides
Pesticides can be toxic to humans as well as animals and plants. Some toxins are so dangerous that even very small amounts can be fatal. However, there are also less aggressive poisons that do not cause immediate harm. But the fact that they can cause long-term harm doesn’t make them any less harmless.
The toxins from the pesticides can linger in the body for a long time. The human organism can react to them in different ways. How depends on various factors, such as the exposure time, the type of pesticide and the resistance of the individual to the chemical substance.
Pesticides and Alzheimer’s disease
The journal JAMA Neurology published a study on how environmental factors can contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers concluded that exposure to a pesticide such as DDT increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. This type of pesticide was used in the US and Germany until the mid-1970s. Today in many countries the use of DDT is only permitted in the control of disease-transmitting insects, for example in the control of mosquitoes, which transmit malaria.
The researchers conducted a study to find a possible link between pesticide exposure and Alzheimer’s disease. To do this, the scientists studied two different groups of patients suffering from this disease. Based on the results, they were able to draw interesting conclusions: the Alzheimer’s patients who had higher blood levels of pesticides showed greater cognitive deterioration compared to the patients in the control group.
These data on the effects of pesticides on the brain are very interesting. Nevertheless, this connection can only explain a few cases of Alzheimer’s disease. Regardless, this study is important as it clearly shows that there is a link between pesticides and this neurodegenerative disease.
Pesticides and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Of course, autism spectrum disorders are genetic. However, the environment also seems to play a major role. One of the risk factors that increase the chances of developing such conditions is exposure to pesticides during pregnancy. In a study by the University of California (California, USA) researchers were able to substantiate this hypothesis.
The scientists also concluded that pesticides can also alter the placenta. This can change the function of this organ and affect the development of the fetus. This may explain the increased risk of autism spectrum disorders.
Pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that causes loss of neurons in the central nervous system. In this disease, it is mainly the dopamine-producing nerve cells that die. The resulting lack of dopamine leads to movement disorders that are characteristic of this disease. So far, the cause of Parkinson’s disease is still unknown.
However, a group of scientists led by Francisco Pan-Montojo found a link between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease. Various other studies show that there are other toxic substances that can cause the symptoms of this condition.
As we can see, the effects of pesticide exposure on the brain can be very serious. This is why their use is so controversial and little is likely to change in the near future. It is therefore imperative that researchers continue to study the effects of pesticides on human health.
It is true that modern agriculture as we know it could not exist without pesticides. But is this form of agriculture more important than the health of thousands of people, animals and plants? In the next few decades we will probably uncover new connections between neurological diseases and the use of pesticides and thus stimulate measures to reduce their use.
