111 newborn babies have died in Maharajganj district of the UP during the last 10 months, due in part to suspected pesticides in maternal milk

Pesticides in breast milk are leading to infant mortality, a recent study by Lucknow’s Queen Mary Hospital has found.

111 newborn babies have died in Maharajganj district of the UP due to mysterious reasons over the last ten months. There is no clear cause for the deaths, however, the study suggests pesticides in the milk of pregnant women could play a role.

Pesticides are chemicals that are mainly used to control unwanted vegetation and kill insects and rodents, or fungi. The human body may be exposed to pesticides through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption of foods that have been sprayed with pesticides.

Previous studies have produced a huge body of evidence on the relation between exposure to pesticides and elevated rate of chronic diseases such as different types of cancers, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson, Alzheimer, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), birth defects, and reproductive disorders.

Most Indians have a hard time safeguarding themselves from pesticides since agriculture is their major source of employment and the country is the largest producer of pesticides.

The research published in Environmental Research Gate was conducted on 130 healthy mother-infant pairs, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, enrolled at Queen Marry Hospital. It was found that, compared to vegetarians, women who consume a non-vegetarian diet are 3.5 times more likely to be exposed to pesticides.

The newborns were found to be more vulnerable since their food consumption is high.

A petition seeking a ban on 116 pesticides is still pending with the Indian Supreme Court. Many of these pesticides have been banned worldwide.

However, in May 2020, the Supreme Court ordered the banning of 27 pesticides stating that they were harmful to the health of the children.

Also read : Fact-check: Mother’s milk no substitute for vaccines

Author

Insha Dar

Insha Mushtaq, a health reporter for The Health Leads, hails originally from Srinagar, Kashmir. She possesses an uncanny ability to distill complex issues into accessible and engaging articles. In addition, Insha holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media from Mumbai University and is currently pursuing a Master's in Convergent Journalism at the Central University of Kashmir.
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