I have recently come across a review article on the PubMed website that explores all of the existing studies on the effects of organic agriculture on human health. It is exhaustive and extensive and illuminating! (But focussed on Europe) While the authors do not unequivocally come down on the side of organics in the end, what they do find is pretty convincing! Regular consumers of organic food tend to have healthier lifestyles, so it is often tricky to be clear whether an improved health outcome is the result of organic food or something else.
Here is a brief summary (but it is worth looking at the original article!)
- Children brought up with organic food tend to have fewer allergies.
- Consuming organic dairy products during pregnancy resulted in 36% lower risk of eczema at 2 years old.
- Consuming organic vegetables during pregnancy lowered the risk of pre-eclampsia
- Regular consumers of organic food have lower risks of obesity
- Also lower risk of hypertension
- Also type 2 diabetes
- and hypercholesterolemia (= high cholesterol)
- and, finally, cardiovascular disease.
- There are 385 pesticides approved for use in the EU (26 are also approved in organic agriculture - these are low toxicity compounds such a spearmint oil, or quartz sand, or constitute human nutrients such as iron, Potassium bicarbonate).
- Of these 385 pesticides, 340 are toxic; 27 are carcinogenic; 26 are toxic to our reproductive system.
- A Swedish study found those who ate organic fruit and vegetables had 70 times lower toxicity exposure.
- Exposure to pesticides is most significant during pregnancy and early childhood - confirmed by a study of Danish greenhouse workers.
- In particular, exposure to organophosphates during pregnancy can harm foetal brain development (from a US study).
- Consuming organic meat gives you higher Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and in particular omega 3's.
- The same is true of organic dairy.
- Widespread and preventative use of antibiotics in animal agriculture has contributed to the antibiotic resistant bacteria issues we face today.