14 DAY TRIAL // Testing pesticides for any effects they might have on the human brain is not part of the standard procedure these chemicals undergo before being approved for widespread use. Recently, a European study uncovered that many of the chemicals that are currently being used throughout the Union are very toxic to infant brain growth and later brain tissue development.
Infant brains are very susceptible to influences from outside chemicals, the report states. After reviewing some 200 international reports on the links between brain development and widely-used pesticides, Philippe Grandjean, at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Southern Denmark, said "Laboratory experimental studies using model compounds suggest that many pesticides currently used in Europe (...) can cause neuro-developmental toxicity."
Because of these effects, more and more scientists are cautioning their governments about the risks that pesticides pose to human health and push for more rigorous testing procedures before the chemicals are allowed for public use. However, large manufacturing companies claim that their products are as safe as they can be to human health and that higher levels of scrutiny won't reveal any abnormalities.
Statistics show that, inside the European Union, more than 140,000 tonnes are being used on the soil each year. In other words, each citizen gets about 280 grams (10 ounces) of pesticides in their cereals annually. Furthermore, almost all types of fruits, vegetables and crops are sprinkled with pesticides, and, on most of those plants, at least traces of two chemical substances can be identified. The substances are very dangerous if they are not properly washed away from the foods before these are eaten.
The course of action Europe will take on the matter is crucial, because these types of chemicals are also used in a number of other countries. Whether authorities decide to ban or to allow further use of these chemicals remains to be seen.