Pesticides, Food, and Your Child

Are pesticides harmful to your child?

Of course! Toxic chemicals will always have an impact on your body.

From the very founding of chiropractic, chiropractors have recited the three main causes of stress in the body: "Thoughts, Trauma, Toxins." Anxiety or mental unrest; falls, bumps, and poor posture; chemicals, drugs, and allergens; all of these can disrupt the nervous system and affect the delicate balance between the organ systems of your body.

This important message is even more relevant this week, since the American Academy of Pediatrics has released an urgent call for all parents and doctors to reduce children's exposure to pesticides:

---

---

Children encounter pesticides every day and are uniquely vulnerable to their toxicity. A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlines the harmful effects of pesticides on children and makes recommendations on how to reduce exposure. The policy statement, “Pesticide Exposure in Children,” and an accompanying technical report are published in the December 2012 issue of Pediatrics (released online Nov. 26). Prenatal and early childhood exposure to pesticides is associated with pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function and behavioral problems. According to the AAP, recognizing and reducing children’s exposure to pesticides will require improved medical training, public health tracking, and regulatory approaches. The AAP recommends pediatricians become familiar with the effects of acute and chronic exposures to pesticides; learn what resources are available for both treatment of acute poisoning and addressing lower dose chronic exposures in children; and understand pesticide labeling. Pediatricians should ask parents about pesticide use around the home and yard, offer guidance about safe storage, and recommend parents choose lowest-harm approaches when considering pest control. Pediatricians should also work with schools and government agencies to advocate for the least toxic methods of pest control, and to inform communities when pesticides are being used in the area. The policy statement also makes a number of recommendations for government, including specific recommendations related to marketing, labeling, use and safety of pesticides to minimize children’s exposure.

---

In commenting on this news, Crystal Phend of MedPage Today makes some excellent points about children's diets:

---

"For many children, diet may be the most influential source," the statement noted.

It pointed to an organic food intervention study that cut pesticides out of the diet, which showed "drastic and immediate decrease in urinary excretion of pesticide metabolites."

While there's no good data on exactly how common acute pesticide poisoning is among children, pediatricians have a "poor track record" when it comes to recognizing it, the authors pointed out.

---

Parents will always remain the first line of defense when it comes to their children's exposure to chemicals and toxins. The most important steps to follow, if possible, are to determine where your child might be exposed to chemicals (lead paint? unwashed produce? rat poison in the basement?) and to take steps to safeguard your children from these harmful toxins. Many times, long low-level exposure may go unnoticed at first but severely impact your child's immune system as he grows up.

Consider asking your pediatrician or chiropractor about other possible sources of toxicity in your child's life. Ensure that her nervous system is functioning at top level with regular chiropractic checkups. Contact your Peoria chiropractor today with any questions.