Danger from insecticidal chemicals

A group of researchers from the University of Granada's Department of Health and Radiology, in collaboration with Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, found that 100% of all analyzed Spanish people carry a ' stubborn ' organic compound. '(POC) on their bodies. This compound is classified as a group of substances harmful to human health worldwide. They enter the body through food, water, even air. They accumulate in human adipose tissue and easily penetrate organs and follow the aforementioned pathways.

The study was conducted according to the idea of ​​Juan Pedro Arrebola Moreno under the guidance of Piedad Martín Olmedo teachers, Nicholás Olea Serrano and Mariana F.Fernández Cabrera. Accordingly, the POC contamination of people in the two regions: urban (central Granada) and semi-rural (Montril) is determined to find the determinants of diet, lifestyle, active or resident.

387 adults participated in voluntary surgery at Santa Ana de Montril hospital and San Cecilio de Granada hospital. Doctors will take samples of their adipose tissue and they will participate in a questionnaire about their residence, lifestyle, eating habits and activities.

POC analysis

The researchers analyzed the samples and identified 6 different POC concentrations:

- DDE : a major metabolite in DDT, a pesticide used in Spain until the late 80s.
- Hexachlorobenzene : a fungicide and a product of some industrial processes today.
- PCB : compound attached to industrial processes.
- Hexaclorociclohexano : insecticide and is still used to treat scabies or lice.

Through analysis, 387 people had POC on their bodies.This compound is classified as a group of substances harmful to human health worldwide.They enter the body through food, water, even air.(Photo: iStockphoto / Vladisplay Gurfinkel)

Through the study, 100% of objects with DDE on the body were discovered - this is a substance that has been banned in Spain. In addition, there are some other common substances such as PCB-153 (over 92% of participants), HCB (91%), PCB-180 (90%) and HCH (84%).

Juan Pedro Arrebola Moreno said that the rate of toxins in women is higher than that of men, in older people than in younger ones.'Probably because of the persistence of these substances in the environment, causing them to spread in the food chain and accumulate over time.' He added that there is a theory called ' Efecto Cohorte ' (Cohort Consequence) that explains why older people have a higher rate of these toxins. According to the aforementioned hypothesis, those born at a high level of pollution suffer greater consequences than those born when these types of poisons are banned.

The effect of diet

Research indicates that diets play an important role in regulating POC concentrations.If we eat a lot of foods of animal origin or high in fat, we only increase the toxin in the body .

Juan Pedro Arrebola Moreno said: 'A number of studies conducted in Spain have also conducted POC rates on population samples. That also means that some types of compounds on the general population have not been discovered '. Therefore, this study will explore POC compounds in depth and identify populations at higher risk of infection to pave the way for later studies to understand the causes and consequences of phenomena.

The study is part of a project funded by the FIS and Andalusia regional government with the participation of the University of Granada, Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Santa Ana Hospital and San Cecilio Hospital.