Study finds pesticide exposure leads to 41% higher risk of miscarriage

By avagrace // 2024-11-04

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A recent study published in the open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety has found that women exposed to pesticides face a 41 percent higher risk of spontaneous abortion compared to those with minimal or no exposure. It found that exposure to organophosphate pesticides was the most common exposure type, though the study examined various pesticide classes. (Related: 70% of pregnant women in Indiana have herbicide linked to cancer in their urine.) The comprehensive review, analyzing data from 18 studies across the United States and Italy, included 439,097 pregnant women aged 16 and older. Though scientists and researchers are not completely certain as to why exposure to pesticides contributes to miscarriage, they believe that contact with pesticide chemicals causes oxidative stress, inflammation and even endocrine function disruption. Scientists say pesticides are especially threatening to fetuses as their bodies are small, vulnerable and highly sensitive while developing in the womb. The harmful chemicals within pesticides are capable of crossing the placenta that connects the fetus to the mother's uterine wall. It is during and after this chemical crossover period that the developing fetus is harmed. The harm involves differentiation, cellular division and developmental problems. Environmental toxins can harm fetal health during pregnancy. Common sources include consumer product chemicals, alcohol, tobacco and heavy metals – all of which increase miscarriage risk. Pesticides pose one of the most serious risks during pregnancy. Organic food researchers advise that pregnant women choose organic produce when possible, especially for foods known to have high pesticide residues.

Pesticide exposure also linked to stillbirths

In a related study, researchers from the University of Arizona found that some pesticides, including organophosphates, were associated with stillbirths during a 90-day pre-conception window and the first trimester of pregnancy. Researchers found that during a 90-day pre-conception window and the first trimester of pregnancy, select pesticides, including organophosphates as a class, were associated with stillbirth, especially for women who live less than a third of a mile from areas with heavy pesticide use. To conduct the study, researchers linked Arizona pesticide use records for 27 different pesticides with state birth certificate data that included 1.2 million births and 2,290 stillbirths from 2006 to 2020. They found that living within 0.31 mile of specific pyrethroid, organophosphate or carbamate pesticide applications during a 90-day pre-conception window or the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. Specifically, the pesticides cyfluthrin, zeta-cypermethrin, organophosphates as a class, malathion, carbaryl and propamocarb hydrochloride were linked to increased stillborn births pre-conception. During the first trimester, fenpropathrin, permethrin, organophosphates as a class, acephate and formetanate hydrochloride were associated with stillbirths. Researchers report that pregnant women may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of pesticide exposure due to physiological changes during pregnancy, such as increased metabolic rate, altered hormone levels and changes in the immune system. The developing fetus may be more susceptible to the toxic effects of pesticides during this period of rapid growth and development. "Further research is essential to fully understand the safety profiles of various pesticides and to understand the underlying mechanisms of pesticide-induced stillbirth," Furlong said. "This study underscores the need to develop strategies for mitigating exposure to protect maternal and fetal health." Watch this video discussing how the dangers caused by pesticide exposure may be just as bad as smoking at increasing risk of developing certain types of cancers. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

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Pesticide exposure also linked to stillbirths

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