Agricultural and Biofuel News - ENN

Monday, November 1, 2010

New Studies Show Environment Linked to Chronic Diseases

For years the debate has been whether or not the chemicals from the environment adversely affect our health. Many groups have tried to get the government to recognize that there is a link and to start to do things that will help "prevent" chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes and not just "intervene". Although there is still a genetic link and other factors that go into an individual's risk in getting a disease, there is even more evidence now proving a strong link with the environment.

In May 2010, the governments Cancer Panel stated that there was a "significant" risk between the chemicals found in pesticides and the development of cancer. This significant risk has now sky rocketed to a 70 to 90 percent link to chemical and cancer according to a new study found in the well known Science journal. It stated,

"Although the risks of developing chronic diseases are attributed to both genetic and environmental factors, 70 to 90% of disease risks are probably due to differences in environments." Stephen Rappaport and Martyn Smith, "Environment and Disease Risks, Science, Vol. 330, No. 6003, pages 460-461.

This is a huge finding and should alter the way we look at foods and the pesticides we place on them.

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