Cypriot Study Confirms Organic Diets Reduce Pesticide Exposure in Children

A Cypriot study shows that organic diets significantly reduce pesticide concentrations in children's bodies and also lower oxidative stress 

A research project within the EU LIFE-funded LIFE programme, coordinated by the International Institute for Environmental and Public Health at the University of Cyprus, was conducted to observe the effect of organic foods on health. It compared pesticide exposure and health parameters in children following different diets.  

The study was conducted on approximately 150 children aged between 10 and 12, who followed their usual diet for 40 days and an organic diet for another 40 days. Urine samples collected from the children were monitored for biomarkers of two pesticides, as well as biomarkers of oxidative damage, in order to study their impact on health. 
The study showed that an organic diet significantly reduces pesticide concentrations in children's bodies and is associated with significantly lower levels of oxidative stress. biomarkers for two types of pesticides, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, were below detection limits in 77% and 32% of urine samples from children on an organic diet and in 66% and 15% of samples from children on a conventional diet, respectively. 

The switch from a conventional diet to an organic diet for school meals was also found to be economically advantageous, supporting its wider implementation. 

Read more: EEA.Europa.EU

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