May 20 2008
Exposure to pesticides will alter DNA: Research
May 20: Increase in the use of pesticides is doing lot of harm for both the soil and the farmers. People who consume those agricultural products that are produced using artificial pesticides are also getting affected by them. A study conducted in India has revealed that direct expose to pesticides could have damaged the DNA of farming communities, which is considered as the reason for the increased rate of cancer among them.
The research was conducted by the scientists at Patiala University in Punjab state. They tracked a group of farmers for several months. Concerns are being raised for several years about the potential health risks posed by pesticides. This new study has found that the pesticide exposure has altered the DNA of farmers in Punjab making them vulnerable to cancer.
While commenting on this professor Satbir Kaur opined that, “The study eliminated other factors like age, smoking habit and alcohol consumption that were considered as the probable reason for alteration in the building blocks of genes as a result of pesticide sprays. We found major changes in the DNA that makes them more prone to cancer risks.”
Meanwhile Salil Singhal of the Crop Care Federation of India questioned the reliability of the research findings and also said that there are no pesticides in use today that could cause cancer. Farmers use spray only few times each season.
Promoting harmless natural pesticides and using natural fertilisers are the ideal way to find a comprehensive solution to this issue.
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