We asked what you wanted to know about toxic exposure and put your questions to Dr Leonardo Trasande

Ask the experts: Do we need to watch out for glyphosate in food?

You asked

Do we need to watch out for glyphosate in food?

The answer

The science regarding health effects of glyphosate is contentious, with the best evidence suggesting increased risks for cancer and effects on the kidney in workers exposed to the herbicide. And even then that evidence is debated.

But one thing is clear: eating organic avoids GMO/glyphosate concerns and reduces levels of pesticides known to be toxic to kids’s developing brains. These pesticides can disrupt thyroid function in pregnant women, which is a problem because thyroid hormone is crucial for a baby’s brain development.

Ask the experts: do the plastic linings of tin food cans contain BPA? Read more

Exposures to these pesticides in pregnancy have been associated with decreases in IQ as well as less development in the parts of the brain associated with cognition and behavior.

The good news is that studies in low and high income populations have found that you can reduce levels of pesticides in urine by eating organic. And price margins for organic foods have dropped substantially over the past five years, making this a much more affordable option.

Leonardo Trasande is an expert in children’s environmental health and a professor and vice-chair for research at Department of Pediatrics at New York University. He is the author of Sicker, Fatter, Poorer