Increased Levels of Toxic Herbicides Found in Pregnant Women
Biomonitoring Study Reveals Alarming Findings
A recent biomonitoring study has discovered alarming levels of toxic weedkillers, dicamba and 2,4-D, in the urine of all 10,0037 pregnant participants between 2010 and 2012. The study also found that the levels of these herbicides in pregnant women have risen between 2020 and 2022.
Potential Harm to Infants
The herbicide 2,4-D has been linked to decreased head circumference in infants, deficits in auditory processing, and oxidative stress. Dicamba, on the other hand, can cause abnormal cell division and growth, increased risk of birth defects in male offspring, and an increased risk of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.
Increased Exposure to Herbicides
The study highlighted a significant increase in the proportion of women with dicamba detected in their urine in the more recent cohort. Although 2,4-D concentration levels also increased, the difference was not significant. This is particularly concerning as only 1.4 percent of 400 urine samples obtained from the U.S. general population from 1976 to 1980 had quantifiable dicamba detected.
Study Methodology
The study was conducted by analyzing frozen urine samples collected in the U.S. Midwest during the growing season (April to October) from 2010 to 2012. These results were then compared to samples from a decade later.
Herbicide Use Over the Last 30 Years
The study also examined the general use of herbicides over the last 30 years and found that these levels have dramatically increased over time. The researchers attributed this increase to the commercial launch of genetically engineered, glyphosate-tolerant soybean, and cotton varieties in the mid-90s.
Reliance on Herbicides
The researchers noted that the reliance on herbicides has drastically increased in the last ten years in the United States. The majority of soybean and cotton seeds sold in the US are now genetically engineered to tolerate combinations of glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, 2,4-D, and the “fop” chemical family of ACCase inhibitor herbicides. As a result, reliance on dicamba and 2,4-D has risen 10-fold or more compared to 2010.
Future Research and Conclusion
The researchers concluded by discussing the potential for future research to advance the understanding of the true impact these chemicals have on humans. They suggested that sequencing the DNA of infants born to mothers exposed to pesticides could help identify markers of genetic and epigenetic changes stemming from prenatal pesticide exposure.
What Do You Think?
This study raises serious concerns about the increased use of toxic herbicides and their potential impact on human health, particularly in pregnant women and their unborn children. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and start a conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.
