There has long been evidence linking pesticides and health problems such as cancer. But pesticides affect human health in many different ways, including increasing the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
The pesticide chlorpyrifos—which has been used on golf courses in the U.S.—has been linked to Parkinson’s, according to reporting in the Wall Street Journal. The article notes that the principal cause of Parkinson’s disease is environmental, citing a study in the journal Brain that noted only 13% of Americans carry a genetic risk factor for the disease. The world’s fastest-growing brain disorder, Parkinson’s is a progressive nervous system disorder that primarily impacts movement.
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What are the Negative Effects of Pesticides?
Pesticides and herbicides like Monsanto’s popular weedkiller Roundup contain toxic chemicals. In an article published in the New Brunswick Media Co-op, Hawai’i-based pediatrician Dr. Lee Evslin observed that rates of chronic disease have increased dramatically in tandem with the widespread use of glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Roundup. Dr. Evslin noted an increase in incidences of diseases such as cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Why are Pesticides Bad?
The negative effects of pesticides and herbicides are wide-ranging. Aside from the link between pesticides and health problems such as cancer, Parkinson’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pesticides are also damaging the environment. This is especially prevalent in Hawai‘i, where widespread pesticide use in industrial agriculture has led to coral reefs shrinking and fish populations decreasing.
Hawai’i has long been a testing ground for agrichemical companies like Bayer and its Monsanto subsidiary. As a result, families have experienced birth defects, cancer cases and other health problems.
What Symptoms are Associated with Pesticide Exposure?
Pesticides affecting human health bring about a variety of symptoms. Of particular interest to researchers and physicians has been a significant increase in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases affect more than nine million Americans, and this figure is expected to more than double by 2025, according to researchers.
Pesticide exposure symptoms include cognitive issues such as:
- Irritability
- Aggressiveness
- Apathy/withdrawal
- Anxiety/obsessive behavior
Patients have also displayed physical symptoms, including:
- Muscle atrophy
- Cortical blindness
- Coordination problems
- Seizures
- Inexplicable limb pain
How are People Exposed to Pesticides?
Pesticides are found in the environment, food chain and water sources. A U.S. Geological Survey found widespread pesticide contamination in streams, ponds and canals. The state of Hawai’i provides an example of the dangers when pesticides creep into water sources. Between 2015 and 2019, pesticide pollution was discovered on 78 sites near agricultural or developed land in the state, including ocean water near the shoreline where people swim.
The negative effects of pesticides contaminating water sources should not be underestimated: even at low concentrations, repeated or long-term exposure to toxic chemicals carry risks for people who live or work nearby. A 2024 study cited in Medical News Today found that the connection between agricultural pesticide use in the U.S. and incidences of cancer is as strong as the connection between cancer rates and smoking.
How We Help Hawai‘i Birth Defects Victims
Seek justice with the help of our experienced birth defects attorneys. Our birth defect litigation attorneys have represented people like you affected by birth defects caused by pesticides, aggressively fighting the corporate giants who failed to protect vulnerable workers. If you or a loved one was exposed to pesticides while pregnant and now have a child who suffers from a life-altering birth defect like spina bifida, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, our Hawai‘i birth defects law firm can help.
