Research has shown that one-third of Americans are exposed to a toxic weed killer chemical.
The team published a paper in Environmental Health that examined the use of 2,4-D as an herbicide to reduce weed growth.
Nearly 33 percent of urine samples from the 14,395 participants in the study had detectable levels of the chemical.
This chemical was also used as a foundational component of Agent Orange, which was used during the Vietnam War by the US to destroy crops and forests used by the North Vietnamese Army. The chemical caused cancer, birth defects, and severe neurological problems in millions of Vietnamese.
Although high levels of exposure have been shown to cause cancer and other health problems, the connection between the two has not been established.
This chemical can cause a disruption in the natural hormone production in animals and humans.
Freisthler stated in the statement that young children can be exposed to it early in their lives. This could happen if the child plays barefoot on a weed-treated lawn or if he/she puts his/her hands in their mouth after a day of playing outside.
We still don’t know all the ramifications of being exposed to 2,4D. More research is required to determine the true danger to human health.
We don’t yet know how generalizable George Washington’s research is to a larger population.
It doesn’t bode well, however, that Americans are so familiar with a chemical linked to cancer and birth defects.
Researchers found that organically grown foods are a good way to avoid 2,4-D exposure. However, it is best to not use it as a pesticide in your garden.
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