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A Consumer Reports investigation of over 200 rice products revealed "significant" and "worrisome" amounts of inorganic arsenic in nearly every rice product they tested and urged consumers to scale back on their eating of rice products. They also asked the FDA to intervene, since inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen. Arsenic is often found in vegetables, fruits and even water. Earlier this year, Consumer Reports found the chemical was common in many apple and grape juices. Rice, which is grown in liquid, easily absorbs the arsenic found naturally in soil and water.
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Let’s try to make 2010 an organic year! Pesticides can be dangerous in surprising ways: For instance, Insecticide exposure may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and lupus in post-menopausal women.

Farming and agricultural pesticide exposure has been linked to the development of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, but it is unclear whether pesticide exposure in other settings might also increase risk of disease.

Researcher Christine G. Parks says, “Our results provide support for the idea that environmental factors may increase susceptibility or trigger the development of autoimmune diseases in some individuals.”
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Or create GM crops! – Pesticides are dangerous, so let’s use everyday herbs and spices instead!

Scientists think that the ordinary herbs and spices we cook with, such as rosemary, thyme, cloves and mint, can be natural pesticides if they are planted next to the plants we at in farm fields, making it unnecessary to spray pesticides on them. For people who are concerned about genetically-modified foods (which are engineered to withstand being sprayed by the Monsanto pesticide Round Up), this means that they won’t have to worry so much about what they find on their grocery store shelves.
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Pesticides may make it impossible for a woman to breast feed, but if she’s exposed to too many of the ordinary chemicals that are all around us at home and at the office, it won’t matter anyway: these reduce fertility!

Some of the chemicals found in food packaging, upholstery and carpets may damage female fertility, because they contain PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals). Manufacturers love PFCs because they resist heat and repel water and oil. When scientists tested the blood of a large group of California women of child-bearing age, they found that over 1,200 of them tested positive for PFCs. Most of them said they were looking forward to having children, but researchers think this is less likely to happen to women who have a large amount of that chemical in their bodies.read more