Early June is too early for a farmer’s market in Colorado to offer much outside of greenhouse and California veggies. But, I’m excited to have Z eating as much local organic produce as possible. I recently read that researchers have directly linked pesticide exposure to kids IQ (excerpt below) Well, that’s enough for me to know that I need to feed Z as well as I possibly can for as long as I possibly can.
So, today’s mission at the farmer’s market was to find early zucchini. He’s not been overly excited about the multiple offerings of peas I’ve had for him, and I fear that he will turn orange from all the sweet potatoes and carrots! His first zucchini offering was a blend with pears. Z made his usual sour faces, but was soon gobbling down the pears.
Mothers’ Pesticide Exposure Linked To Kids’ IQs
by Richard Knox
- April 21, 2011
Scientists report that children exposed before birth to a common class of pesticides can have lower IQ levels when they reach school age. The pesticides, known as organophosphates, are widely used in agriculture.
The new data come from three independent studies published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
One study, from California, involved several hundred women and children who live on or near farms where pesticides are sprayed on crops.
Researchers tested the urine of pregnant women for traces of pesticide byproducts, called metabolites. Then after the children were born, the scientists tracked them as they grew — so far, up to the early grades of school.