Can Household Pesticide Use Trigger Food Allergies?
Food allergies can range from mild to severe. And according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, food allergies are a growing public health concern, affecting up to 15 million people. Of this number, roughly 6 million, or 8%, of all children suffer from some type of food allergy.
Food Allergies Have Been Linked to Household Pesticide Use
If you’ve been struggling to find a solution to deal with you or your child’s chronic food allergies, the answer may be right under your nose. Research has confirmed that individuals who have been exposed to high levels of pesticide chemicals are more likely to develop food allergies.
Chemicals known as dichlorophenols are produced after the breakdown of common pesticides, as well as chlorine found in drinking water. These chemicals may be found in air fresheners, mothballs, and deodorizing urinal cakes.
As instances of food allergies continue to increase in the US, health experts wonder if household chemical use could be lowering the body’s immune defenses, making the average person more intolerant to food.
Although more research is necessary to link dichlorophenols with food allergies, researchers pose what is called a hygiene hypothesis. Scientists believe that if we rid our homes and bodies of good bacteria completely, we will only weaken our body’s immune system and make allergies an even more common occurrence.
How to Use Pesticides Safely Around the House
The safe use of pesticides at home is critically important, especially if one of your family members suffers from food allergies. The first step to take is to contact professional pest control services in Birmingham for quarterly extermination. A skilled exterminator will know how and where to spray pesticide in your home in the correct volumes to prevent an allergic reaction from being triggered.
Once your house has been exterminated, experts caution against using over-the-counter pesticides, unless absolutely necessary. In between extermination visits, natural pest control methods are recommended to keep bugs at bay, like using cucumbers to deter ants and basil to repel flies.
If you do choose to use an over-the-counter pest spray at home, read the label carefully before use. It’s best to purchase the least toxic pesticide available that will get the job done without risking the health of your family.
Even better, take the time to research individual chemicals on a pesticide label before spraying. While some pesticide chemicals can trigger allergies, others have been known to cause more harmful issues with continuous use, including birth defects and cancer.