HOUSEHOLD PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS LINKED TO CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA

Sunday, 04 August 2002 10:00

The study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that the use of professional pest control services 1 year before birth to 3 years after was associated with a significantly increased risk of childhood leukemia. The findings were reported in Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 110, Number 9.

"When household spraying takes place the unborn child is exposed to a range of pesticides during its development. This study provides further evidence that exposure to pesticides during pregnancy is an extremely risky practice."

"Although the research was conducted in the US we know Australian children are being exposed to pesticides from a study conducted in Townsville that found newly born children's meconium (first bowel discharge) to contain measurable amounts of pesticides."

"The evidence against using pesticides is continuing to build. If parents can avoid exposing their unborn and young children to pesticides then they should."

Pesticide use can be dramatically reduced through the implementation of integrated pest management strategies. IPM is a common sense, risk-based approach to pest control that can eliminate the need for pesticides.