Posted on 10/14/2021 7:45:34 AM PDT by Red Badger
A commonly available pesticide has been associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a University of Queensland study.
Researchers analyzed links between pesticide exposure and the risk of kidney dysfunction in 41,847 people, using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
School of Public Health Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne said the study found people exposed to higher amounts of the insecticide Malathion, known as Maldison in Australia, had 25 percent higher risk of kidney dysfunction.
"Nearly one in 10 people in high income countries show signs of CKD, which is permanent kidney damage and loss of renal function," Dr. Osborne said.
Risk factors of developing CKD include age, hypertension and diabetes.
Dr. Osborne said CKD with no known cause was rising in low-to-middle income countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Mesoamerica.
"Initially, it was suspected the condition was associated with agricultural workplaces through exposure to heat stress, dehydration, pesticide spraying, heavy metals and agrochemicals," Dr. Osborne said.
"However, environmental contamination, pesticide residues and herbal medicines potentially containing heavy metals may also be contributing to CKD."
The cause of increased CKD remains unknown but spraying pesticides without personal protective equipment (PPE) and working with contaminated soil have been suggested as likely exposure pathways.
Dr. Osborne said the UQ study was the first to provide evidence linking Malathion with risk of poor kidney health in humans.
"The findings suggest we should limit our exposure to pesticides, even in very small doses, as chronic exposure may lead to negative health outcomes," Dr. Osborne said.
"We will continue to investigate if other pesticides may be involved and are planning to collect data on Sri Lankan farmer behaviors to examine their level of exposure when using pesticides in the field."
Malathion is licensed for use in agriculture, domestic and public recreation areas as part of mosquito and fruit fly eradication programs, and can also be found in some topical head lice treatments.
The study is published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Explore further
Pollen patties may save bees poisoned by pesticides More information: En-Tzu Wan et al, Association of Pesticides and Kidney Function among Adults in the US Population 2001–2010, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910249
Journal information: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Provided by University of Queensland
Agriculture PING!................
If anyone has a better alternative that is organic and actually works, please let me know.
Nicotine?..................
WARNING!!
Scientists determine the Number one cause of Death is LIVING!
I’ve sprayed malathion and it works.
I’ve also been sprayed, accidentally by a crop duster, by malathion, while working in a field.
I didn’t get that off until many hours later, but I can’t point to a specific problem.
Life is a sexually transmitted disease that is 100% fatal.
I ustah spray it on my plants in Lauderdale years ago and my pee that night would smell of Malathion, figured that was not good so I switched to a bag of RedBull or Beachnut soaked in a 5 gallon bucket with a few drops of dish soap.
Worked well
Boric acid on a small scale... for bugs that ‘groom’ themselves - ants and roaches...
Redman.............Red Bull would kill your plants.................
Garden List Ping for discussion of the use of Malathion in the garden.
When *I* was a kid, we’d eat Malathion slathered on asbestos shingles we tore off the roof!
*SMIRK*
People are such a bunch of wimps these days! ;)
I, myself, wouldn’t use Malathion. I’ve always gardened organically, but I admit that I use Round-up for weeds around The Manse - but not around our food.
You all would also be surprised to read the LENGTHY list of ‘organic’ chemicals that the USDA allows farmers to use to produce ‘organic’ foods:
https://www.agdaily.com/technology/the-list-of-pesticides-approved-for-organic-production/
My experience, having gardened since Christ left Chicago, is this:
Grow plants that are suited for your USDA Growing Zone and keep them HEALTHY! Healthy plants have little problems fending off the Bad Bugs. BUT Bad Bugs can ‘smell’ your struggling plants from miles away - and they WILL come to destroy them the rest of the way for you! ;) As with most things in life, Defense is the best Offense!
Plant a pot or a row of flowers and herbs that attract The Good Bugs to your garden! You want REAL Lady Bugs, Lacewings, Dragonflies, Honey Bees, Parasitic Wasps, Spiders, etc. to hang around and do the dirty work for you!
https://bugs.uconn.edu/beneficial-insects/#
Plant some of this stuff to attract beneficial insects:
https://www.permaculturenews.org/2014/10/04/plants-attract-beneficial-insects/
But - if you see Tomato Horn Worms, just kill then. They. Are. Evil. No redeeming value, whatsoever. ;)
If you MUST use a chemical means for a major infestation, usually soapy water in a spray bottle will help - especially for aphids, but if you work on attracting Lady Bugs and Lacewings, they LOVE to eat aphids.
I would also recommend products in the ‘Safer’ line of organic products. Gentle on you and the earth. I used to sell the brand at my store and it was quite popular and I never had a customer come back to say it didn’t work to rid them of whatever bug was bothering their plants.
See Post #13. Meant to ping you, too! I’m assuming we’re talking a home garden and not cropland?
If so, I don’t have any advice for you. I’m not sure what they spray on the crops around me (wheat, oats, feed corn, alfalfa) but it’s not much and it’s not often. The guy that rents the land from us is a GREAT steward of the land and works hard to keep it healthy and fertile - which is why we rent to HIM and not some HUGE outfit that may not do the same. :)
good post. I appreciate organic. However, in my profession as landscaper, when I approach a big problem area, especially with Kudzu or poison ivy, I pull out my Glyphosate. I dont have time to waste. I spray it myself, with approval of the client. Vinegar/organic just doesn’t work. It goes without saying that anyone applying it has anxiety. But if it were that dangerous, it’d be taken off the market. I’m careful, or try to be, don’t breathe it or stand underneath the spray when I’m spraying poison ivy and kudzu. There is great apprehension. In 10 years, we will see how my health fairs.
Saving all your links.
We are pathetic gardeners with soil that is 30% rocks and the rest mineral without any organic matter, in a fir forest with 100-150 ft trees all over the place. But we manage to grow a bit. All your info is helpful.
At least this year we lived off of cucumbers, romanescu zukes (the only kind worth eating), green beans and kale. And tomatoes, billions of them.
BTW a long time ago a neighbor (when we lived in a neighborhood with very small lots) sprayed his entire yard with diazanon, using 5X legal concentration. At night. Then he went and stayed in a motel for several days. The stink was so bad I called 911 and so did neighbors, thinking there was some chemical truck leak/crash nearby. My windows were all open as it was hot, was sleeping in living room due to heat. I was 3 months pregnant, DH was thankfully sleeping in the bedroom.
I got a heavy dose, in a week had the horriblest miscarriage ever, and within 1 to 1 1/2 years developed several auto-immune conditions including severe MCS. It changed my life totally.
I really, really do not like pesticides.
“And tomatoes, billions of them.”
I went way overboard on tomatoes this season; I felt like I spent the entire MONTH of September canning! Oh. Wait a minute. I DID, LOL!
I was making up for lost time; I had a terrible growing season last year - it rained ALL SUMMER LONG, and I was forced to BUY tinned tomatoes and commercial salsa this past winter, which just about killed me! ;)
OMG! How awful for you! *HUGS*
AND A DASH OF DDT FOR 'SPICE'!.............
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