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Indiatimes > The Times of India > Health/Science > Article

Pesticides affect mental development

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
[ THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2004 01:27:23 PM ]

AMRITSAR: The pesticides can effect the development of mental health of children among the agriculture communities using the pesticides intensively, according to a study conducted by Greenpeace.

The study, conducted in 18 villages of six states chosen for their high levels of pesticide consumption, revealed distressing effects on the mental health of children of agricultural communities, Greenpeace and its partner for Punjab project, Kheti Virasat, said at seminar here yesterday.

The research was conducted in three villages of Bhatinda by using a Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT) that helps document the abilities of children and assess their development and results were compared with the results of a Control Group - children belonging to similar demographic groups but not exposed to pesticides, they said.

In Punjab, the difference between the Study Group and Control Group children is "singularly stark". Control Group Children in the 4-5 year age group performed "conclusively better" in 87 per cent of the tests administered. Control Group children displayed better abilities in 85 per cent of the tests administered to the 9-13 age group.

"When we started this study, it was with the awareness that we would probably find unsettling evidence of children damaged by neuro-toxic chemicals present in pesticides", said Kavitha Kuruganti, Principal Investigator of the study.

"But nothing could have prepared us for the extent of damage we'd discover. We've seen children unable to perform simple play-based exercises... simply because they've been exposed to pesticides over a period of time," she added.

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