The amount of pesticide residue found in vegetables, fruits and crops pose a serious threat to human body, especially of children, reports BSS.
Farmers in our country apply various types of pesticides to protect the vegetables and crops from unwanted pests. However, they do not follow necessary guidelines or safety standard to get rid of the pesticide residue.
Health experts say pesticide substances are potentially toxic to human bodies and it can cause acute and chronic health hazards, depending on quantity and ways in which a person is exposed to.
They said pesticide substances that remain in human body due to various types of ignorance such as - not washing fruits and vegetables properly and farmers' reluctance to use standard methods - may stimulate adverse health condition including cancer, effects on reproductive health and weak immune system.
Pregnant women regularly consume vegetables and fruits for getting proper nutrient, they as well as their unborn babies are most vulnerable to the exposure of pesticide residue. People of all ages are also consuming pesticide residue unknowingly in their daily food intake.
Different studies across the world have already established the link between pesticide exposure of mothers and subsequent neurological outcome on unborn babies and cognitive disorder in children.
A study of University Barkeley of California found that exposure to one type of pesticide (organophosphate) during pregnancy was linked to earlier delivery, an increase in abnormal reflexes in infants, poorer mental development at 24 months of age, and increased risk of developmental disorder.
Another study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that children born to mothers who were exposed to different group of pesticides during pregnancy had an increased level of behavioral disorder like attention deficit and hyperactivity .
A child specialist at National Heart Institute said the effect of pesticide residues on human body can be compared to slow poisoning.
It puts an adverse impact on human body over years. Initially, its impact starts with itching and later on, it can cause chronic dysentery for kids and kidney failure. Moreover its long-term effect can cause different types of cancer.
