One out of three people exposed to potentially harmful pesticide
New study suggests children at high risk of exposure to a popular weed
killer

Date:
February 10, 2022
Source:
George Washington University
Summary:
One out of three people in a large survey showed signs of exposure
to a pesticide called 2,4-D, according to a new study. This novel
research found that human exposure to this chemical has been rising
as agricultural use of the chemical has increased, a finding that
raises worries about possible health implications.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
One out of three people in a large survey showed signs of exposure
to a pesticide called 2,4-D, according to a study published today by researchers at the George Washington University. This novel research found
that human exposure to this chemical has been rising as agricultural
use of the chemical has increased, a finding that raises worries about
possible health implications.


==========================================================================
"Our study suggests human exposures to 2,4-D have gone up significantly
and they are predicted to rise even more in the future," Marlaina
Freisthler, a PhD student and researcher at the George Washington
University, said. "These findings raise concerns with regard to whether
this heavily used weed-killer might cause health problems, especially
for young children who are very sensitive to chemical exposures."
Lead author Freisthler and her colleagues looked for biomarkers of the pesticide found in urine samples from participants in the National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey. They estimated agricultural use of 2,-D
by studying public and private pesticide use data from 2001 until 2014.

Out of 14,395 participants in the survey nearly 33 percent had detectable levels of 2,4-D in their urine. The researchers found that participants
with urine levels of this pesticide went from a low of 17 percent at
the start of the study in 2001-2002 to a high of nearly 40 percent ten
years later.

Other key findings of the new study:
* As the use of the herbicide increased during the study period so did
human exposures.

* Children ages 6-11 had more than double the risk of increasing
exposure
to 2,4-D.

* In addition, women of childbearing age had nearly twice the risk of
increased exposure compared to men in the same age group.

* Human exposures are likely to rise even more in the near future
as this
herbicide's use continues to go up.

2,4-D was developed in the 1940s and soon became a popular weed-killer
for farmers who wanted to increase crop yields. In addition, homeowners
looking for a pristine, green lawn also turned to 2,4-D often in
combination with other lawn chemicals.

Exposure to high levels of this chemical has been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues. While scientists don't
know what the impact of exposure to lower levels of the herbicide might
be, they do know that 2,4-D is an endocrine disruptor and this study shows children and women of childbearing age are at higher risk of exposure.

Children can be exposed if they play barefoot on a lawn treated with
the weed- killer or if they put their hands in their mouths after
playing outside, where the soil or grass might be contaminated with
the chemical. People also can be exposed by eating soybean-based foods
and through inhalation. The now widespread use of 2,4-D on GMO soybeans
and cotton leads to more 2,4-D moving in the air, which can expose more
people to this chemical, according to the researchers.

"Further study must determine how rising exposure to 2,4-D affects
human health-especially when exposure occurs early in life," Melissa
Perry, a professor of environmental and occupational health and senior
author of the paper, said. "In addition to exposure to this pesticide,
children and other vulnerable groups are also increasingly exposed to
other pesticides and these chemicals may act synergistically to produce
health problems." Consumers who want to avoid exposures to pesticide
can purchase organically grown food, which is less likely to be grown
with weed killers. They can also avoid using 2,4-D or other pesticides
on their lawn or garden, the researchers said.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by George_Washington_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Marlaina S. Freisthler, C. Rebecca Robbins, Charles M. Benbrook,
Heather
A. Young, David M. Haas, Paul D. Winchester, Melissa J. Perry.

Association between increasing agricultural use of 2,4-D and
population biomarkers of exposure: findings from the National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2014. Environmental Health,
2022; 21 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00815-x ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220210084951.htm

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