Zika pesticide linked to a 60% increase in autism ... 

Is this the beginning of an epidemic?

Thursday, August 18, 2016 by: Amy Goodrich
Tags: Zika, autism, pesticide spraying

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(NaturalNews) As fear of the Zika virus spreads throughout the United States, authorities
are desperately looking for ways to protect their citizens. As reported by Circa, over 1,000
people in the U.S. have been infected with the Zika virus, which is believed to cause severe
birth defects like microcephaly.

One of the primary weapons to kill the disease-carrying mosquitoes is the use of aerial 
pesticides – chemicals that are sprayed from airplanes and helicopters. While the number
of states using aerial spraying or fogging campaigns to kill off mosquitoes is rising, some
scientists are raising serious questions about their safety.

One of the chemicals being used is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
approved insecticide called Naled. Naled is a neurotoxin that kills adult mosquitoes.
While this compound will provide protection against the Zika virus, there are several huge
problems linked to its use.

In addition to killing important pollinators such as bees and butterflies, scientists found that
high exposure to commonly used chemicals such as pyrethroids and the organophosphate
trichlorfon could have severe negative long-term health effects. Trichlorfon, one of the main
ingredients in Naled, has been associated with an increased risk of cancer, autism and birth
defects.
60 percent increased risk of autism
A 2014 study conducted at the University of California, showed that pregnant women living
within a few miles of farms where pesticides like Naled were sprayed had a 60 percent
increased risk of their child developing autism spectrum disorders or experiencing
developmental delays.

Dr. David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist, said that authorities need to take a step
back and look at the broader picture of these spraying interventions when weighing up risk
versus benefit.

"We should prove safety and not just say well because it hasn't been proven detrimental it's ok.
 That's not good enough," he said.

Besides causing autism, substances like pyrethroids have been linked to breathing problems,
involuntary twitching, seizures and cancer. The EPA has even classified them as likely to be
carcinogenic to humans. Nonetheless, pesticides containing pyrethroids or trichlorfon are
being  used in Zika response plans in many U.S. cities.

Naled not the best way to combat Zika
According to Joseph Conlon, a spokesman for the American Mosquito Control Association,
there are far better strategies to combat Zika than spraying or fogging with harmful, autism-
causing chemicals. He said that the most effective way to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes
 is to get rid of all water containers and trash around the house.

Water and trash are the breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Get rid of those, and you'll get rid
of the mosquitoes too. Unfortunately, instead of educating people, health workers keep fighting
 mosquito-borne diseases through the use of harmful chemicals.

How to protect yourself and your family
First of all, make sure to protect yourself against dangerous bugs and mosquitoes with a
decent, natural bug repellent. This will help you to avoid a Zika infection in the first place.

Furthermore, the use of pesticides to stop the Zika epidemic is unlikely to stop, so you should
protect your family from dangerous aerial spraying or fogging chemicals; get your hands on the
 spray schedules for your city or neighborhood. As reported by The Institute For Natural 
Healing, most aerial mosquito spraying occurs in the two hours before sunset and the one after.
Make sure to stay inside during these times, and don't forget to close windows and keep your
pets inside.

Also, make sure to get clothes and toys inside, and cover sandboxes and swimming pools.
If you must be outside, make sure to wear long sleeves and pants, and cover your mouth with
a mask. If you have a vegetable garden, always make sure to wash your produce thoroughly to
 remove pesticide residues.

Sources for this article include:

Circa.com

DrPerlmutter.com^[PDF]

InstituteForNaturalHealing.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/055021_Zika_autism_pesticide_spraying.html#ixzz4HjLJ1x22