A recent research study indicates that organic diet is better for the infants and children, with respect to the exposure of pesticides.
Background : The National Research Council, in 1993, reported that the dietary intake represents the major source of pesticide exposure for infants and children. And this exposure may contribute to the pesticide related health risks in children compared to the adults. Many studies have been carried out , since then, to quantify the exposure to pesticides and assess the effect.
Study : A study, supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency was undertaken and published in Environmental Health Perspectives ( EHP ) in Sep 2005. 23 elementary age children volunteered for the 15 day study. Their urine samples were bio- monitored daily while they were on conventional, organic and conventional diet. The diet basically consisted of fresh fruits, vegetables, juices, wheat or corn based items.
Conclusion : There was a dramatic and immediate reduction in exposure to Organophosphorus pesticides such as malathion and chlorpyrifos. These pesticides are commonly and predominantly used in agricultural production.
2 comments:
Does organic material contain certain harmful chemicals (due to decomposition or such things)?
No. It does not have any harmful chemicals.
The organic farming method uses composted manure, mostly animal manure, instead of chemical fertilizers. No chemicals are introduced due to decomposition. Some studies suggest that animal manure may introduce some bacteria. Some studies compared the products grown on conventional and organic farms and concluded that there was no "statistically different" risk in the pathogenic contamination of organic food verses its conventionally produced counterparts.
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