Pesticide Safety?

I am often criticized for talking about toxic chemicals in farming and ranching. Statistically, farmers and ranchers that use chemicals in their operations have greater instances of cancer and Parkinson’s. Reading the obituaries of farmers and ranchers and listening to the calls for prayers for people suffering from cancers, Alzheimer’s, asthma and more, I still wonder why people choose to use the chemicals that are making them sick.

I once took a course in pesticide safety. Volunteers were told to choose protective clothing to wear to see how well we could protect ourselves from pesticides. Some men chose nothing but latex gloves. Some chose simple paper face mask. I grabbed the best protective clothing available. I had a full suit, gloves, rubber boots, cap and face respirator.

We were told to take a two gallon sprayer and spray along a designated area that would be representative of spraying weeds along a fenceline. When everyone had finished, the teacher turned off the lights and turned on a black light. The black light lit up a chemical used in the sprayer to show what effect drift would have on the person spraying.

After removing the protective equipment, a helper took a black light wand and “lit up” each volunteer. All glowed in the dark, except me. And even with all the protective equipment, I still had a glow around the skin on my face that was not covered by the respirator or protective clothing.

The teachers brought the lesson home with a strong statement. “If the chemical used to light you up was a toxic poison, none of you were safe.” I obviously had the least amount of chemical on me, but it struck home. Any amount of exposure can be dangerous.

Then came the question, “Can we wash this off?” This is where the lesson continued with surprising results. Each one of us washed their hands and were black lighted again. The results were not good. Some material was still on the arms and face of all the volunteers. For me, the material was now on my hands!

The instructors went on to say that if the students were to wash their clothes, the “poison” would be all over the washing machine and the next load of clothes would also be contaminated. So much for protecting the family from pesticides.

A group called “Beyond Pesticides” has launched the Pesticide-Induced Disease Database. It links public health effects to pesticides based on epidemiological and laboratory studies. These are not small studies but increasing numbers of studies that are associated with real illnesses.

It is important access to epidemiological and laboratory studies that link public health exposure to pesticides. Diseases like asthma, birth defects, Parkinson’s, and cancer are all known to be associated with pesticides. Many more diseases are suspect. The use of Roundup has already been shown to cause cancer. And Monsanto (the manufacturer) has been ordered to pay millions.

During this time of the year, gardeners, farmers and ranchers might take time to reflect on their health and the health of their family. Is there cancer in your family? Today in the United States, one in two men will get cancer before they die. And one in three women will also suffer from cancer. The number of people with Parkinson’s is also on the rise. Cancer numbers have risen among children. And the US doesn’t seem able to build enough hospitals to care for the sick.

You don’t need to be a farmer or rancher to be exposed to toxic farm chemicals. You just have to eat. Many of the chemicals that cause cancer and other diseases are in the food we eat. And those chemicals cannot be washed out of the food.

In 2025, I will be offering my nutrition classes for free. I am looking for a free location in La Grange that will allow me to reach as many people as possible. I will have separate classes on arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and more. I hope to teach one class on one Sunday afternoon a month. Hopefully this will allow more people to attend.

I will be teaching these classes for educational purposes only. I do not diagnose, treat or promise a cure for any disease. I always suggest that you confer with your doctor before making any changes in your diet or health journey. I will be presenting recommendations based on scientific and evidence-based information. I hope you will come and learn.

David E. Will is a local rancher and nutritional practitioner in Fayette County. He can be reached at (830) 629-9876 or by email at dwill207@satx.rr.com.