Martin van den Berg, honorary professor of Toxicology at Utrecht University, also states that these substances, in small quantities, pose virtually no risk to ordinary fruit and vegetable consumers. “You have to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to get close to dangerous amounts,” says Van den Berg. The situation is different for the farmers themselves and for those who live close to the fields. “More research is needed on the implications for them.”
The research also shows that it is more common to use mixtures of several pesticides at the same time. In 2011, 6.4% of the fruits studied had a “pesticide cocktail”, compared to 10.2% in 2019. These cocktails are a cause of great concern to neurologist Bas Bloem de Radboudumc. “We are now only looking at individual products, but we do not know what the combination of these substances does with the risks,” says Bloem.
In her book, Bloem discusses new ways to test the safety of pesticides. He studied the role of pesticides in the onset of Parkinson’s disease for years.
cumulative effects
According to Bloem, the way in which pesticides are tested is insufficient. It occurs in mice. It is checked whether they experience the substance, whether the substance is carcinogenic and whether there is damage to the neurological systems. According to Bloem, the test mainly fails in this latter category. “It does not take into account any cumulative effects.”
PAN’s Muilerman urges government to enact tougher laws. “There are alternatives to pesticides, but there is little pressure. Nothing encourages farmers to do it differently.”
Source: NOS
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
