Collateral Damage: Pregnancy, Prematurity and Pesticides, Pregnancy

The chemical warfare between weed killers and weeds is escalating. Weed killers appeared to be winning the war at first, but in recent years weeds have developed increasing resistance to these chemicals.
Pesticide manufacturers developed genetically modified crops that could withstand more potent dousing with weed killers. But again, the weeds developed increased resistance.
The total amount of herbicides sprayed on soy crops in the US in 2017 will be more than double what it was when my kids were born.
As recently as ten years ago, most soybean fields in the US were sprayed with just one or two herbicides. In 2017, most soybean growers will spray four or more herbicides on their crops.
Why Does this Matter? 
In a recent study of pregnant women in Indiana, Dr. Paul Winchester and team found glyphosate (or Roundup) in the urine of more than 90% of the women tested. And, consistent with previous pesticide and prematurity research, they found higher levels of pesticide were linked with shorter pregnancies. Not all exposures were equal.
On some days it might sound appealing to some for pregnancy to be shorter – but it’s not what you want for your baby!
Tick Tock
Until this year most herbicides in the Midwest were sprayed in just a 6 week-window: most of the year was a relative-herbicide-free zone. But with the escalation of this chemical warfare on weeds, the new schedule calls for heavy herbicide use for 4 months each year. Pretty much all pregnant women will be pregnant du...

Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - April 5, 2017 Category: Child Development Authors: Dr. Alan Greene Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog Organic Pregnancy & Birth Pregnancy Nutrition Prenatal Source Type: blogs