Just this September, several outbreaks of egg contamination were found in Europe. The pesticides allegedly found in eggs were said to have been Fipronil, a flea poison commonly used in farming. This substance contains a certain amount of toxic in it that when eaten, may cause several dietary complications.

The contamination issue had such a devastating effect, that the European Commission has launched an investigation on the matter.

Nonetheless, what this event proves is that pesticides truly may have dire consequences not only on the environment but also on the consumers. In order to better illustrate the repercussions of pesticides, here are 5 things you, the consumer, need to know.

1. It is highly correlated with Cancer.

James Cleeton, a famous medical researcher, claims that "women with breast cancer are five to nine times more likely to have pesticide residues in their blood than those who do not?. In addition, further research from Bangkok also suggests that there is a strong correlation between pesticides and collon cancer.

2. It can cause indoor pollution.

Fruits and vegetables that have pesticide residue are a common thing in the household. However, research indicates that these may actually cause indoor pollution. This happens because the residue of pesticides actually take years to decompose and thus, they will only accumulate in your house specifically in areas such as carpets, curtains and floorings according to the EPA.

3. It lowers nutritional value

There is a strong body of research in the United States that agrees that pesticides decrease the amount of trace minerals of vegetables and fruits. Trace minerals are essentially the most vital nutrition derived from vegetables and fruits and by reducing these amounts, we also compromise on our nutrition and wellness. Research mentioned above states that pesticides lower the trace minerals by up to 72%. Huge.

4. It is bad for the soil

For the same reason above, because pesticides eliminate a substantial amount of trace minerals, not only does the harvest suffer but so does the soil in which it was planted on. Soil relies heavily on minerals to support the growth of crops, however, pesticides suck these said minerals from the soil and thus, crops stemming from the soil would have a reduced nutritional value as well. The decrease in soil minerals could also affect the amount of crop production because the soil will tend to be less productive.

5. It causes toxic contamination

As mentioned in the introduction above, pesticides are known to contaminate farm products both directly and indirectly. The egg contamination above is an example of cross contamination where the eggs were contaminated despite the pesticides not being used on them. This means that the vast majority of farm products in a pesticide-using farm are exposed to risks of being contaminated. This contamination allows toxins to develop in the food which is known to cause a variety of chronic illnesses.

Finally, it is important for us to realize that while these harms of pesticides exists, we must do our part in spreading awareness in order to decrease the amount of harm that pesticides cause on society at large.

Thank you for reading, and let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!!