Organics
Healthy Kids – Healthy Environment for Children
Children are at higher risk of exposure to pesticide residue because of their smaller size and immature immune system. Because U.S. national organic standards and industry practices do not allow the use of genetic engineering in the production and processing of organic products, organic agriculture offers a choice to consumers who wish to avoid genetically modified foods.
A study to assess preschool children’s organophosphorus pesticide exposure in the Seattle Metropolitan area made an interesting discovery: the only child whose urine contained no measurable pesticide metabolites lives in a family that buys exclusively organic produce and does not use any pesticides at home.
A National Academy of Sciences study suggested that one out of four developmental and behavioral problems in children may be linked to genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to lead, mercury, and organophosphate pesticides.