I felt like I kept coming across the same news headline yesterday- on twitter, World News Tonight, facebook- you know, all the top news reporters 😉
Anyways, here is what the study, conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the school of public health at the University of California, Berkeley, all concluded:
Pesticide exposure during pregnancy could negatively affect brain development.
The researchers monitored pesticides levels in pregnant mother’s and later tested their children’s IQ. The researchers found that the pregnant women with the highest levels of pesticide exposure ended up having 7-year-old children with lower-than-average IQs.
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IQ Scale
Over 140 – Genius or almost genius
120 – 140 – Very superior intelligence
110 – 119 – Superior intelligence
90 – 109 – Average or normal intelligence
80 – 89 – Dullness
70 – 79 – Borderline deficiency in intelligence
Under 70 – Feeble-mindedness
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The pesticides monitored were organophosphates- common pesticides used in conventional crop farming, sprays for cockroaches and gardening materials.
Now I do my best never to ‘drink the kool-aid’. I know that correlation does not equal causation, but this isn’t the first study to link pesticide exposure a lower IQ scores, ADHD, Autism, cancer, etc.
As a pregnant woman, I want to do everything I can to provide the best start possible for Baby D. Some things may be silly (we listen to 30 minutes of classical music everyday), some things more practical (getting in plenty of healthy omega-3s, exercise and lots of water) and some things I choose to do because I truly believe they are beneficial- like buying organic.
Do I think pregnant women that don’t buy organic are harming their children? Absolutely not. In fact, when I got out to eat, I guarantee you my nachos aren’t organic. But if limiting the exposure of pesticides as often as I can to my unborn child may help him/her have an advantage starting out in life, I’m all for it.
What are your thoughts on this study?
Am I crazy to worry about pesticides, or do you agree?
How did you, do you plan to, change your habits when pregnant?
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous. says
I’m not even close to being pregnant and I worry about pesticides so no I don’t think your crazy. Right now I’m a poor college student so I don’t have the money to buy everything I want organic but I get what I can and hope that by the time I’m having kids, $ won’t be such an issue!
Kim says
When I was pregnant with my first child, I worried about pesticides and I still do, only now I worry about what my children may be exposed to! (while their IQ’s have not been tested, I am very sure that their scores are quite reasonable~) but when shopping for a family of 6, buying organic is expensive! So I use the list of 12 (to buy organic and the 12 with the least evidence of pesticides)…One item I try to buy mostly organic is Apples.
check out this link for more info: (if you haven’t already)
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808
Sarah for Real says
I like your approach to this. I also would like to add that IQ scores themselves are not necessarily indicative of anything, especially when measured in seven year old children. I’ve been reading (er… listening to) Nurtureshock (GREAT book on child development for parents and non-parents alike… I’ve been learning a lot about myself!) and one section analyses how IQ testing done at such a young age is nearly useless in 80% of children. Just some more information to add to this discussion!
That being said, I do mostly organics at home, rarely when I eat out and I don’t freak out about it either way. I buy them because I believe in better farming practices. When I’m pregnant, I probably will pay closer attention to the really badly contaminated items like strawberries and potatoes, but again, try not to go overboard with worry.
Sara @ Nourish and Flourish says
Brittany, I LOVE your new layout! So fun!
I try to avoid pesticides as much as possible, paying close attention to the dirty dozen. That said, like you, I don’t turn down non-organic restaurant food. Only when I have a choice (and a few extra dollars in my pocket) I go organic!
Maria @ Oh Healthy Day says
I don’t think you are silly at all for trying avoid pesticides. I used to think that buying organic was just a trend. I mean, I grew up without eating organic and I turned out okay (matter of opinion), so why start now? Well, the more I looked into it, the more I realized that it simply couldn’t hurt. I love supporting substainable agriculture as well as putting all natural food in my body. So I agree with you and believe that it’s not a bad idea.
When I get pregnant 10 years from now, I want to hopefully be in a place where I can afford organic as much as possible, especially meat. To me, having grass fed organic meat is a bigger priority than organic produce.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I think you’re doing great and you’re totally not crazy at all! I wish more moms-to-be would be as considerate as you are. I think it all comes down to education though. Some people just aren’t aware.
When I get pregnant (quite awhile from now!) I will totally make sure I do much better in my diet. I already eat pretty well but I’ll try even harder to do it even healthier.
Anastasia says
I came across your blog the other day and am so happy I found it! My husband and I are planning for a lil’ babe next year and I worry about a lot of the same things you do. I’ve been making changes now and pesticides was one of the first things to go.
I’ve been buying organic produce exclusively for about two months now and I’m so happy I am. It makes me feel a ton better and the price isn’t really that much more expensive than our normal grocery. Even if the study isn’t accurate I still feel a lot better knowing where my food came from since we buy from a lot of local farms in our area.
Rachel @ Rachel's Recipe Reviews says
Every little bit helps. I say you can’t be too careful. Although, don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure you’re doing a WAY better job than I did when I was pregnant. I’m also pretty sure that my little one turned out fine and is already brilliant. 😉 Your baby is lucky to have such a great mommy who is already making endless sacrifices for him/her (do we know yet?). Regardless of being preggers or not, I’m sure it’s better for anyone to eat organic.
Emily Malone says
I have been buying organic recently for things like strawberries, grapes, apples, etc. For others like bananas or oranges, I don’t usually bother. I am also really bad about washing produce – it drives Casey nuts. But now that I’m pregnant I find myself remembering every time, and taking extra care to wash fruits and veggies as well as possible.
I listen to a lot of classical music too. 🙂
Corey @ the Runner's Cookie says
Interesting! I know nothing about this, but I don’t think you’re crazy at all for being worried about pesticide consumption. I think I would try to be conscious of that too if I were pregnant! You do a great job of being so aware and informed 🙂
Baking Serendipity says
Oh man. I live in Phoenix and bugs here suck. We have a pesticide company come spray monthly because I can’t stand bugs, especially roaches in my house. But my husband and I are starting to think about getting pregnant, and I don’t like thinking the best idea would be to stop with the bug spraying habit we’re in! This also makes me think it’s probably not great for me, pregnant or not. Ugh.
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
As a general rule, I don’t really worry about buying organic…and, you might hate me for this, but I’m also not a super stickler about cleaning my produce extra-thoroughly. (I do usually give it at least the obligatory rinse.) My dad is a scientist who has worked in pesticides, and if he doesn’t always buy organic, well then I figure it’s OK if I don’t. [Plus, I’m cheap.]
However, I’m pretty sure that if I’m ever pregnant I will change my tune a little bit. Once you have someone else relying on you and your food choices, I imagine it changes your whole perspective.
Of course, I’m probably going to want a lot of ice cream when I’m pregnant, and I’m just gonna have to let that craving happen…organic or not.
Caree @ Fit-Mama says
I didn’t even know to worry about pesticides until I was late in my pregnancy with baby #2. I saw a few studies and started to panic because we have a company come and spray the outside of our house every quarter for bugs. We have to or we would be overpopulated by spiders and ants. So I didn’t really know what to do.