ScienceWorldReport.com:
With 12 million Americans allergic to one food item or another, allergists from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) have focused on this in order to find traces of the causative agent.
According to the study, food allergies are on the rise partially due to the presence of pesticides in tap water. High levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated with food allergies.
"Our research shows that high levels of dichlorophenol-containing pesticides can possibly weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy," said allergist Elina Jerschow, M.D., M.Sc, . ACAAI fellow and lead study author. "This chemical is commonly found in pesticides used by farmers and consumer insect and weed control products, as well as tap water."
They focused on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006 in which 10, 348 participants had participated, out of which 2,548 had dichlorophenols measured in their urine and 2,211 were included into the study.
Nearly 411 participants had food allergy while 1,016 had an environmental allergy.
MORE
With 12 million Americans allergic to one food item or another, allergists from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) have focused on this in order to find traces of the causative agent.
According to the study, food allergies are on the rise partially due to the presence of pesticides in tap water. High levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated with food allergies.
"Our research shows that high levels of dichlorophenol-containing pesticides can possibly weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy," said allergist Elina Jerschow, M.D., M.Sc, . ACAAI fellow and lead study author. "This chemical is commonly found in pesticides used by farmers and consumer insect and weed control products, as well as tap water."
They focused on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006 in which 10, 348 participants had participated, out of which 2,548 had dichlorophenols measured in their urine and 2,211 were included into the study.
Nearly 411 participants had food allergy while 1,016 had an environmental allergy.
MORE