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Megan, selected from Green Options

Household Insecticides Linked to Lupus and Arthritis

posted by Megan, selected from Green Options Oct 30, 2009 5:19 pm
filed under: Arthritis, Conditions, General Health, Health & Safety, Health & Wellness, Safe Sweet Home, ,
Household Insecticides Linked to Lupus and Arthritis
13 comments

By Daniel Hohler, Green Options

New research out of Philadelphia suggests a link between women’s exposure to household insecticides (including roach and mosquito killers) and the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Previous research has shown a link of agricultural pesticides to higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Autoimmune diseases are diseases where the immune system goes haywire and begins to attack the body. Farmers were shown to be a high risk group for this reason.

Women who reported applying insecticides had a higher risk of developing the two autoimmune disorders than women who reported no insecticide use, whether or not they had lived on a farm. Those who used the insecticide the most often and most frequently had double the risk.

“I would recommend that people read the labels and take precautions to minimize their personal exposure. This is the case regardless of whether these results are implicating a chemical that’s on the market now or was before,” said Christine Parks, epidemiologist with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, to USA today reporter.

More research will be needed to nail down the direct link between insecticides and autoimmune disease. The researchers examined data from a previous study of almost 77,000 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79. Their findings were to be released Monday at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting in Philadelphia.

The insecticides implicated in the study include insect killers, such as those designed to eradicate ants, wasps, termites, mosquitoes and roaches. They didn’t include insect repellents.

Green Options Media is a network of environmentally-focused blogs providing users with the information needed to make sustainable choices. Written by experienced professionals, Green Options Media's blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. We invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance.
More on Arthritis (15 articles available)
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13 comments

13 comments

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13 comments add your comment
Cs Curnow

diatomaceous earth does kill insects, but the good with the bad...it kills earth worms as well...something you do want to make your soil rich and natural.

Shawn W.

Previous research has shown a link of agricultural pesticides to higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.


vitamin b

Ardis M.

Other proeucts may work in some areas, but if you live in a Malaria and Dengue Fever country, you NEED DEET!

Debra Thomas

I am not surprised that insecticides and other toxins can be a contributing factor, i cringe when i see those retro commercials with 'good mum' spraying her house to protect her kids - also know from studies and family history an acidic meat based diet is also linked to lupus and also i used to suffer from psoraitic arthropy until i cut out the nightshade family - autoimmune disorders are not to be treated lightly - free radicals are released when you have acute attacks, and these can cause cancer

Janet Foster

Some fairly pleasant plants deter insects. Basil is known to keep fleas, mosquitos and a lot of other insects away, and most of us love this smell, and I've never heard of bad effects of basil. Citrus (oranges, etc) also works well, and smells great. Yes, you probably have to put it on more often, but I just grow basil around the house. Garlic works, too.

Sabine Seidel

I just discovered a outstanding natural product to fight insects. It is called diatomaceous earth. You can find fabulous info on www.earthworkshealth.com. I wish I would have known about this powder long time ago. It is safe for you, your pets......, so I am asking myself, why are we as consumers not even given the option to find stuff like this at home depot or lowes, which have only tons of toxic, poison. Please give it a minute to check it out, I am sure you will NOT regret it!!!!!!!!

Pam Rhia S.

As a person with Lupus, I can remember the city coming through town with a sprayer on the back of a truck and spraying our entire town for mosquito's. They did that very regularly during the height of the Summer when those pests were bad. Also, due to the many bugs TX seems to have because of our heat and humidity, using external and internal bug spray seems to be a way of life here. You are always fighting mosquito's, ants, water bugs, chiggers, crickets, fire ants, and termites. I remember my Dad having our house professionally exterminated for termites when I was about 6. That stuff they used was later outlawed, and no wonder, 40 plus years later they have never had one termite since. You know that has to be one heck of a strong poison to keep those things away for that long. Of course it is damned if you do, and damned if you don't... some of those pests like mosquito's, flies, fire ants, etc are harmful to humans, and pets. I have to wonder now with all we have learned about the poisons we have spread due to bugs in our homes, lawns, and crops, if that is why we are seeing a huge rise in autoimmune diseases, where immune systems just go nuts and begin attacking themselves.

Linda H.

As a child, I would be playing in our yard as they sprayed the cotton fields that surrounded us. Even the clothes line, and items on it were sprayed. Cancer, Lupus, and RH were common in our area.
I have Lupus and RH.

Frank Kuhre III

When we lived in Texas (Just outside San Antonio) We had an exterminator treat our house quarterly. The amount of insecticide that was sprayed on the exterior of the house was unbelieveable!! It ran off the roof and sides in sheets! And they treated the foundations and the attics with some sort of powder and spray. I can only wonder.... My wife has been fighting auto immune symptoms for years and is diagnosed with RA and Micro Biological Collagenous Colitis.......

Terre D.

Barbie, you're kidding, right? If not, that's sad. 'Massive overkill' comes to mind.

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