2026 Pesticides in the Pantry:
Transparency & risk in food supply chains
Human Health / Scientific Updates
Recent UCLA research confirms strong association between paraquat pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease risk, with risk increasing with duration and intensity of exposure - particularly elevated for early-onset cases before age 60. [1]
Growing body of research connects prenatal pesticide exposure to neurodevelopmental impacts in children, including lower IQ scores (up to 7 points lower), increased ADHD diagnoses, and cognitive deficits, with effects particularly severe when exposure occurs during pregnancy. [2]
Glyphosate residues detected in widespread food products and water, with emerging research showing pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella are more resistant to glyphosate than beneficial gut bacteria, potentially selecting for harmful microbes and disrupting gut microbiome balance. [3]
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2015, with meta-analysis showing exposure to glyphosate weed-killers increases risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by 41%. [4]
Emerging research on endocrine-disrupting pesticides including neonicotinoids and organophosphates shows potential impacts on reproductive health and hormone function, with prenatal exposure linked to autism spectrum disorder traits and cognitive impairments. [5]
Landmark 2025 Nebraska study documents pesticide exposure's role in rising rates of childhood cancers - a 10% increase in pesticide mixtures associated with 36% rise in brain and CNS cancers, 23% increase in leukemia, and 30% overall increase in pediatric cancers, particularly in agricultural communities. [6]
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[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12174424/ ; https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/paraquat-pesticide-parkinsons-disease
[2] https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/pesticide-induced-diseases-database/learningdevelopmental
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10561581/
[4] https://www.sokolovelaw.com/blog/roundup-linked-to-cancer/ ; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34052177/
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452225007031 ; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6071837/
[6] https://usrtk.org/healthwire/pesticide-exposure-linked-to-childhood-cancers/