Adults and children alike are continually exposed to a vast range of chemicals. As an example, even within this relatively limited research study, some samples have tested positive for residues of up to 13 different pesticides. There has been little research into the combinatory or ‘cocktail’ effects of exposure to pesticides. As a result, we have limited understanding of how long-term exposure to this cocktail of pesticides affects human health. There is an increasing body of evidence showing that chemicals are more toxic when combined than alone.
We are assured by governments and companies that ingesting pesticides residues in food presents no unacceptable risk to us and our children due to the very low levels of any given active substance actually present. This assertion is based on the long-held tenet that “the dose makes the poison”, in other words that a substance will have harmful, toxic effects only if present in sufficient quantities. However, research in recent years has suggested that this assumption might not hold true for certain chemicals, such as pesticides, and that we should be concerned about the health impacts of certain chemicals at low doses.