Pesticides may be a leading cause of major diseases

Chronic illness is widespread in many industrialized nations like the U.S., and more studies than ever are linking this disease epidemic to pesticide exposure. According to a new database designed to catalog these studies, pesticides are linked to cancer, reproductive dysfunction, diabetes, autism, asthma, birth defects, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and more.

Beyond Pesticides, an environmental and public health group, decided to put together the Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database to raise awareness about the dangers of pesticides and to urge policy changes to get these chemicals removed from use.

"A read through of the scientific literature on pesticides and major preventable diseases afflicting us in the 21st century suggests that one of the first responses called for is an all out effort to stop using toxic pesticides," explained Jay Feldmen, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. Read more...

Joint symptoms