Common pesticide found to cause hidden brain damage

 Chlorpyrifos, a chlorinated organophosphate (CPF), is among the most widely used insecticides worldwide. In the United States, it remains a fixture in agriculture, showing up in nonorganic fruits, vegetables, grains, and even in the air and dust near farm fields, despite a ban on residential use since 2001. Globally, its use continues at scale.

Now, researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have uncovered troubling evidence: prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos is linked to measurable changes in brain structure and reduced motor skills in children and teens growing up in New York City.

As scientists uncover the hidden costs of this everyday chemical, the focus shifts from what’s on our plates to what’s affecting the future health of our children.

A 1960s pesticide icon

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) was introduced in 1965 by Dow Chemical and quickly became one of the most widely used pesticides in agriculture. Valued for its ability to kill insects on crops like corn, soybeans, and fruit, it was also sprayed in homes and schools for decades.

From farming staple to public health concern

Its popularity spread rapidly thanks to its effectiveness and low cost, making it a staple of modern farming. But as research advanced, scientists began linking long-term exposure to serious health risks, especially in children.

Hidden health risks

A number of studies soon revealed that CPF exposure can harm the brain and nervous system, leading to lower IQ, developmental delays, and behavioral problems in children, even at low levels over time.

Uncovering the hidden impact of CPF

And now, a groundbreaking study led by Columbia University, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and USC’s Keck School of Medicine is the first to show that prenatal exposure to CPF leaves lasting molecular and metabolic changes in the human brain.

How CPF travels through the body

When pesticides enter our bodies through food, touch, or air, pregnant women face a unique risk: CPF can cross the placenta, reaching the fetus at up to four times the levels found in maternal tissues, and then penetrate the developing brain.

What animal studies tell us about pesticides

Animal studies reveal that even low-level exposure to CPF and similar pesticides, below the dose that harms insects, can disrupt brain development. 

What animal studies tell us about pesticides

In rodents, it hinders neuron growth, interferes with synapse formation, and even triggers cell death.

What CPF does to the brain

Early exposure to CPF appears especially harmful to glial cells, the brain’s support network. Studies show it first triggers abnormal growth and swelling, and later leads to widespread scarring known as astrogliosis.

The brain’s “support crew”

While neurons handle the electrical signals that let us think, move, and feel, glial cells keep everything running smoothly. They nourish neurons, clear away waste, and help repair damage. Think of them as the maintenance team that keeps the brain’s communication network in top shape.

What is astrogliosis?

Astrogliosis, a type of scarring in the brain that may result from early exposure to CPF, occurs when glial cells swell and multiply, forming a dense web of tissue. While this response is meant to protect the brain, excessive scarring can disrupt healthy function.

How CPF disrupts the brain at a cellular level

Researchers say CPF harms the brain by sparking stress inside cells, fueling inflammation, disrupting energy production in mitochondria, and altering how brain cells respond to growth signals.

Tracking CPF exposure

The study tracked 270 children from the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health birth cohort. All were born in New York City to Latino and African-American mothers, offering a deeper look at the communities most often exposed to environmental risks.

Chemicals at birth, effects years later

Every child in the study showed traces of CPF in their umbilical cord blood at birth. Years later, between ages six and 14, researchers followed up with brain scans and behavioral tests to track possible impacts.

Exposure leaves its mark

The findings revealed a distinct trend: children exposed to higher levels of the insecticide before birth showed more significant changes in both brain structure and function compared to their peers.

How early exposure shapes the brain

Building on earlier evidence that prenatal CPF exposure can disrupt skills like intelligence, focus, and socialization, researchers predicted strong links to brain regions tied to these abilities.

Dose matters in brain impact

Prenatal exposure to CPF was found to alter brain structure, function, and even metabolism. The higher the exposure, the greater the disruption, pointing to a clear dose-response effect.

Farm use persists

For this group of children, indoor pesticide use was the primary source of exposure. While the EPA banned chlorpyrifos in households back in 2001, the chemical is still widely used in farming, especially on non-organic produce and grains.

A decline after the ban

After the household ban, CPF exposure steadily fell. Products were pulled from shelves, leftover supplies ran out, and carbamate-based pesticides largely took their place in American homes.

Exposure beyond the home

But even with the household ban in place, farm workers and nearby communities remain at risk. Ongoing agricultural use means CPF can drift into the air and dust, leaving those close to fields exposed.

Air pollution shows a parallel story

Earlier work with this same group of children revealed nearly identical results tied to prenatal exposure to air pollution, reinforcing the idea that environmental factors can also shape brain development from the very beginning.

CPF’s unique impact

The study shows CPF affects the brain on its own. Its influence didn’t overlap with air pollution, and the results stayed the same even after factoring in other pollutants.

A common pathway of harm

Even though these chemicals are different, many harm the brain in similar ways. Studies show that inflammation and cell damage are key, whether the exposure comes from CPF pesticides, air pollution (PM2.5), or pollutants from burning fuels (PAHs).

Protecting the most vulnerable

Virginia Rauh, ScD, senior author of the study, warns that current exposure levels still endanger farm workers, pregnant women, and unborn children. She stresses the need to closely monitor vulnerable groups, especially expectant mothers in farming communities, since their infants remain at risk.

Caution across pesticides

Other organophosphate pesticides may cause similar harm, making it crucial to limit exposure during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood, times when the brain grows quickly and is most vulnerable to toxic chemicals.

Study scope and limitations

There are some limitations to the study. With participants drawn from urban Dominican and African-American mothers and their children, the results might not represent experiences in other communities or regions.

Addressing potential selection bias

Some selection bias was possible, since not all cohort members were reached or agreed to MRI scans. Still, participants were similar to the full group in demographics and long-term cognitive outcomes, so bias appears limited.

Risks may outweigh benefits

There's no doubt: pesticides such as CPF may boost crop yields, but mounting evidence shows they can damage brain development, harm wildlife, and contaminate soil and water, posing risks far beyond the fields.

Safer farming practices take root

Fortunately, farmers are slowly embracing integrated pest management, crop rotation, and natural predators to fight pests. These revolutionary methods cut back on chemicals while safeguarding harvests, proving that healthier farming is achievable close to home.

Farming for a sustainable tomorrow

Farmers worldwide are testing organic practices, biopesticides, and precision tools. By blending natural solutions with modern technology, they’re paving the way toward cleaner water, healthier food, and a future built on sustainability.

Tim Spector says simple tweak in your cooking can 'slash cholesterol'

 

A leading health guru has revealed that spending just 10 minutes on one simple kitchen trick before cooking could dramatically cut cholesterol levels and slash your risk of heart disease. Professor Tim Spector, who is one of the founders of the ZOE diet app who became a household name during the Covid pandemic, has shared his game-changing advice for anyone using chopped onion and garlic in their cooking.

The expert insists that letting these ingredients sit for 10 minutes before they hit the heat can supercharge levels of a powerful chemical that tackles cholesterol head-on. Speaking to The i, Prof Spector explained how this straightforward technique also helps keep blood sugar levels steady.

The professor's guidance forms part of his top dietary tips, where he highlighted: "Onion and garlic, as well as cabbage and broccoli, are good sources of sulforaphane, a chemical that has been shown to improve glucose control and cholesterol levels."

He explained that the cooking process wipes out an enzyme called mirosinase, which is crucial for producing sulforaphane. But by giving vegetables a five to 10-minute breather before cooking, the sulforaphane gets "activated" and survives the heat treatment.

Prof Spector also dished out another clever meal-planning strategy, revealing: "There is emerging evidence that eating salads or other vegetables as starters ten minutes or so before you have a carbohydrate-rich meal can help to keep you fuller for longer and reduce blood sugar spikes from the starchy food."

The diet expert also recommended Brits incorporate more fermented foods into their diets, such as kimchi. He praised vinegar for its role in salad dressings, explaining that its acidity helps stabilise blood sugar levels, keeping you feeling satisfied between meals and reducing the temptation to snack.

Other tips included swapping processed stock cubes for miso paste and cooking tomatoes in extra-virgin olive oil to extract more nutrients. Prof Spector shared his personal preference: "I drizzle and spread extra virgin olive oil on my toast rather than butter, for greater health benefits. This is what they do in Spain, and it tastes delicious."

He suggested a healthier breakfast alternative: "Instead of quickly reaching for cereal, have full-fat Greek yoghurt topped with nuts, seeds, and berries. It contains less sugar, and the toppings will help you reach your 30 plants a week. Research shows people who eat 30 different plants a week tend to have a more diverse gut microbiome than those who eat 10. A flourishing microbiome can help the body fight infections, reduce the risk of autoimmune disease, and regulate appetite and body weight.

"Eating the rainbow not only supports your gut health and reduces the risk of disease, it also enriches your diet with a greater range of flavours and textures (and will help you reach your 30 plants a week target too). A simple and cheap way is to buy pre-mixed combinations; packs of multi-coloured peppers are a good example, as are combinations of other root vegetables, or mixed nuts and seeds."

Shocking pictures show pale and gaunt Putin as Kremlin has 'no plan for his death'

 Grim new images of a pale, gaunt Vladimir Putin have fuelled fresh health rumours, exposing a far more dangerous truth: the Kremlin has no plan for his death. The 73-year-old president appears markedly thinner and drained in recent photographs, including one showing him meeting election chief Ella Pamfilova in Moscow.

The pictures have reignited speculation about Putin's physical condition after years of swirling rumours. Yet the greater crisis, according to a leading Russia expert, is political. Dr Julian G Waller, a research scientist in Russian studies at the Centre for Naval Analyses, warns in Foreign Affairs that Putin has deliberately built a system with no succession mechanism, writing: "Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or - against all observable inclinations - stepping aside. But what happens then is unclear."

The absence of any clear handover arrangements risks plunging Russia into chaos. Dr Waller outlines several grim possibilities: a rushed and contested transfer of power, a chaotic struggle among elites long denied the top job, or continued decay under the ageing clique that currently surrounds the dictator.

Unlike other post-Soviet leaders who prepared family successors or formal rules, Putin has sent no such signals. He clings to power while surrounding himself with a tight circle of elderly loyalists.

Constitutionally, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin would assume temporary control if Putin dies or becomes incapacitated. However, Dr Waller notes that Mishustin lacks an independent power base and would struggle to convert caretaker status into permanent authority.

Real influence, the expert argues, would instead fall to a "shadowy mob" of Putin's oldest allies - men in their seventies who form the regime's security backbone.

They include spy chief Alexander Bortnikov, 74; National Guard head Viktor Zolotov, 72; Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu, 71; and General Valery Gerasimov, 70. These figures have spent decades blocking younger talent from rising, creating a dangerous bottleneck of frustrated subordinates with little governing experience.

Dr Waller said: "Long-obstructed subordinates, lacking governing experience, will be thrust into these roles - or the sudden vacancy will spur a scramble among discontented insiders who will want to muscle each other out of the way. This is a recipe for potential chaos and could lead to dangerous missteps during the careful dance of coordinating a leadership transition."

The warning comes as Russia remains locked in a grinding war in Ukraine and faces mounting economic pressure. Any sudden leadership vacuum could trigger not only elite infighting but also wider instability, including risks of miscalculation with the West.

Putin has ruled Russia for more than two decades, systematically dismantling independent institutions and personalising power. The result, Dr Waller concluded, is a regime uniquely unprepared for the inevitable. The pale, gaunt figure now appearing in official photographs serves as a stark visual reminder that time is running out - and that the Kremlin has done nothing to prepare for the day it arrives.

With no designated heir and an ageing elite clinging to the levers of power, Russia stands on the brink of a potentially explosive transition. The pictures of Putin may shock, but the absence of any plan for his death is the real alarm.