Home Insecticides Linked to Autoimmune Disorders

March 21, 2010

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(NaturalNews) Using pesticides in the home may significantly increase women's

risk of developing autoimmune disorders, according to a study conducted by

researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and

presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in

Philadelphia.

Although the study was not set up to prove that insecticides directly caused the

disorders, the researchers did control for all other known risk factors, and

none appeared to play a role. " It's hard to envision what other factors might

explain this association, " lead researcher Christine Parks said.

In autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the body's own

immune system attacks some other part of the body. Previous research has shown

that women exposed to agricultural pesticide use are at a higher risk of

developing both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Women not living on farms,

however, tend to be exposed to much lower doses of the chemicals, even if they

use them in the home.

In the current study, researchers examined data on approximately 77,000

postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79, sorting them by

self-reported home pesticide exposure. They found that regardless of whether

they had lived on a farm, women who were exposed to more insect-killing

chemicals in the home were significantly more likely to develop either of the

diseases. Women who had been exposed most frequently or for the longest period

of time had twice the risk as women who had never been exposed.

Either mixing or applying insecticides counted as exposure for the purposes of

the study. Insect repellent exposure was not included.

" I would recommend that people read the labels and take precautions to minimize

their personal exposure, " Parks said. Although significant insecticide exposure

can occur when people use pesticides, Parks noted that much exposure actually

occurs inside the home itself -- from roach sprays, ant traps and other

insect-killing poisons.

Sources for this story include: www.usatoday.com

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