The Wellness Guide

Fall 2022

The Risks of Pesticide Exposure for Women

More than 90 percent of Americans have pesticides and/or their byproducts in their bodies, mostly from eating conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill bugs and other pests, but they can also be extremely harmful to humans. Studies have shown that pesticide exposure can lead to a variety of reproductive problems in women, such as reduced fertility, changes in menstrual cycle, and an increased risk of miscarrying.

More than 90 percent of Americans have pesticides or their byproducts in their bodies, mostly from eating conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill bugs and other pests, but they can also be extremely harmful to humans. Studies have shown that pesticide exposure can lead to a variety of reproductive problems in women, such as reduced fertility, changes in menstrual cycle, and an increased risk of miscarrying.

Pesticide Exposure and Endocrine Hormones

Reproductive effects that have been associated with pesticide exposure in women are decreased fertility, spontaneous abortions, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, developmental abnormalities, ovarian disorders, and disruption of the hormonal function. Pesticides that may disrupt the hormonal function are often called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), just like other agents with similar mechanisms of action.

In some cases, exposure to pesticides has been linked to an increased risk of endometriosis - a condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus grows outside of the organ. A recent study led by scientists at the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health found that more than 50 percent of adolescent girls from farm communities in the Salinas Valley were exposed to Dacthal.

This is especially concerning, given that Dacthal is also a suspected endocrine disruptor ' a chemical that can affect hormones ' and may be particularly harmful to thyroid function.

Reproductive effects that have been associated with pesticide exposure in women are decreased fertility, spontaneous abortions, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, developmental abnormalities, ovarian disorders, and disruption of the hormonal function.

Pesticides that may disrupt the hormonal function are often called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), just like other agents with similar mechanisms of action. In some cases, exposure to pesticides has been linked to an increased risk of endometriosis - a condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus grows outside of the organ.

A recent study led by scientists at the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health found that more than 50 percent of adolescent girls from farm communities in the Salinas Valley were exposed to Dacthal. This is especially concerning, given that Dacthal is also a suspected endocrine disruptor, a chemical that can affect hormones, and may be particularly harmful to thyroid function.

Perhaps one of the most serious risks associated with pesticide exposure is an increased risk of miscarrying.

Studies have shown that women who are exposed to high levels of pesticides (such as those working in agricultural fields) have a greater chance of miscarrying than those who don't.

Pesticide exposure has also been linked to a higher risk of birth defects and other problems during pregnancy. 

Pesticide Exposure and Miscarriage Risk

Perhaps one of the most serious risks associated with pesticide exposure is an increased risk of miscarrying. Studies have shown that women who are exposed to high levels of pesticides (such as those working in agricultural fields) have a greater chance of miscarrying than those who don't.

What can you do to reduce your risk?

Here are 5 tips to help you reduce pesticide exposure:

1. Wash Your Produce Right When You Get Home from the Store

2. Peel the outer layers of certain produce

3. Know what types of produce have higher levels of pesticides and avoid them

4. Growing your produce doesn’t take as much space as you think

5. Use a pesticide purifier to remove pesticides from your fruits and veggies.

We don’t need to tell you that home cooking is much healthier than takeout, but last year a new product that removes pesticides was launched on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter:

The Garrnish Pesticide Purifier was fully funded in about 1 hour, and since then thousands of people received theirs. The Garrnish Pesticide Purifier is SGS lab tested to remove up to 99% of pesticides from your produce, making it quite the hot commodity. It uses electrolysis to break the chemical structures of chemical pesticides on produce in about 10 minutes. Click the button to read more about the Garrnish Pesticide Purifier.

While the health risks associated with pesticide exposure are clear, what can you do to reduce your risk?

There are a few things you can do to clean your conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

1. Wash Your Produce Right When You Get Home from the Store;
2. Peel the outer layers of certain produce;
3. Know what types of produce have higher levels of pesticides and avoid them;
4. Growing your produce doesn’t take as much space as you think;
5. Use a pesticide purifier to remove pesticides from your fruits and veggies.

We don’t need to tell you that home cooking is much healthier than takeout, but last year a new product that removes pesticides was launched on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The Garrnish Pesticide Purifier was fully funded in about 1 hour, and since then thousands of people received theirs.

The Garrnish Pesticide Purifier is SGS lab tested to remove up to 99% of pesticides from your produce, making it quite the hot commodity.

It uses electrolysis to break the chemical structures of chemical pesticides on produce in about 10 minutes. Click the button to read more about the Garrnish Pesticide Purifier.

Are you concerned about the amount of pesticides in your body? Have you taken any steps to reduce your exposure?