It’s the inert ingredients not labeled on the herbicides and pesticides that make these products far more dangerous.

“Until now, most health studies have focused on the safety of glyphosate, rather than the mixture of ingredients found in Roundup. But in the new study, scientists found that Roundup’s inert ingredients amplified the toxic effect on human cells—even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns.” Read the full article found in Scientific American here. 

From the National Institutes of Health, “Pesticides are substances widely used to control unwanted pests such as insects, weeds, fungi and rodents. Most pesticides are not highly selective, and are also toxic to nontarget species, including humans. A number of pesticides can cause neurotoxicity. Insecticides, which kill insects by targeting their nervous system, have neurotoxic effect in mammals as well. This family of chemicals comprises the organophosphates, the carbamates, the pyrethroids, the organochlorines, and other compounds. Insecticides interfere with chemical neurotransmission or ion channels, and usually cause reversible neurotoxic effects, that could nevertheless be lethal. Some herbicides and fungicides have also been shown to possess neurotoxic properties. The effects of pesticides on the nervous system may be involved in their acute toxicity, as in case of most insecticides, or may contribute to chronic neurodegenerative disorders, most notably Parkinson’s disease.”

Pesticides cause many undesirable health effects to people. One of the biggest problems is their neurotoxicity. Like Lead and Mercury, pesticides cause learning disabilities and disorders associated with the brain and nervous system.

TOP NEUROTOXINS

1. Organophosphate Pesticides including Glyphosate (Monsanto’s Roundup), Neonicitinoids (Bayer Advanced, Safari, see chart below), and Dow’s Chlorpyrifos to control mosquitoes
2. Lead
3. Arsenic
4. Mercury
5. Aluminum
6. Fluoride
7. Flame Retardants (PBDEs), Drycleaning fluids (PERC)
8. Perchlorate (Rocket Fuel–contaminates drinking water believe it or not)
9. And also some food additives and sugar substitutes are neurotoxic including Aspartame, Sucralose (Splenda), Neotame, (neotame is Not even required on food labels!), MSG (monosodium glutonate), yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Neurotoxins Chart courtesy of The Atlantic Magazine.

Neurotoxins used to Control Mosquitoes: Chlorpyrifos

From the National Pesticide Information Center, “Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide.  Chlorpyrifos is used to control many different kinds of pests, including termites, mosquitoes, and roundworms. Chlorpyrifos was first registered as an insecticide in 1965 and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) re-registered it in 2006.

What are some products that contain chlorpyrifos?  Products with chlorpyrifos in them are used in agriculture for feed and food crops and in cattle ear tags. They may be used on golf courses, and to control fire ants and mosquitoes for public health purposes. Products containing chlorpyrifos are also used to treat wood fences and utility poles.”

 

How do the Chemical Companies shift the focus and keep their destructive poisonous products in the marketplace? From Follow the Honey, 

“These industry public relations strategies come straight from the tobacco industry’s playbook, and were used for years to mislead the public about the danger of their products by manufacturing and magnifying uncertainty about the cancer risk of cigarettes.”

 

Brand Names for Neonicitinoid pesticides (Chart courtesy of the Xerces Society)

Examples of Neonicotinoid Garden Products Used in the United States

 

Neonicotinoid	Garden & ornamental uses	Garden product trademark names
Imidacloprid	Foliar spray for turf and ornamental flowers, trees, and shrubs; soil drench for garden fruits and vegetables, and ornamental flowers, trees, and shrubs; trunk injection for trees; granules for turf and ornamental flowers, shrubs, or trees.	Bayer Advanced 3-in-1 Insect, Disease, & Mite ControlBayer Advanced 12 Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control Bayer Advanced 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Bayer Advanced Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose & Flower Care concentrate DIY Tree Care Products Multi-Insect Killer Ferti-lome 2-N-1 Systemic Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Spray Knockout Ready-To-Use Grub Killer Monterey Once a Year Insect Control II Ortho Bug B Gon Year-Long Tree & Shrub Insect Control Ortho MAX Tree & Shrub Insect Control Surrender Brand GrubZ Out
Clothianidin	Granules for turf, and ornamental flowers, shrubs, or trees.	Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose & Flower Care granulesGreen Light Grub Control with Arena
Thiamethoxam	Foliar spray for turf and ornamental flowers, trees, and shrubs; granules for turf and ornmanetal flowers, trees, and shrubs.	Amdro Quick Kill Lawn & Landscape Insect KillerAmdro Rose & Flower Care Maxide Dual Action Insect Killer
Acetamiprid	Foliar spray for garden fruits and vegetables, and ornamental flowers, trees, and shrubs.	Ortho Bug B Gon Garden Insect KillerOrtho Bug B Gon for Lawns Ortho Flower, Fruit and Vegetable Insect Killer Ortho Rose and Flower Insect Killer Ortho Rose Pride Insect Killer
Dinotefuran	Granules for turf and ornamental flowers, shrubs or trees; soil drench for ornamental flowers, trees, and shrubs.	Green Light Tree & Shrub Insect Control with Safari 2 GSafari Ortho Tree & Shrub Insect Control Plus Miracle Gro Plant Food

SOLUTIONS:

• Protect your health and avoid neurotoxic heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic chemicals.
• Make sure your drinking water is not contaminated with these things. If you have your own private well, please get it tested for these substances as well as nitrate from fertilizer.