A new study has shown that one in three Americans has traces of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in their body, a toxic chemical that is used to kill weeds.
In a study published in the journal Environmental Health, scientists took tests from 14,395 people in the United States and found that almost 33% of them had traces of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the urine.
“Our study shows that human exposure to 2,4-D has increased significantly, and it is projected to grow even more in the future,” the researchers write.
2,4-D is used primarily to kill weeds, but during the Vietnam War, this chemical was a key ingredient of agent orange, which was used by the US military to clear the forest of leaves. This has led to the development of cancer, birth defects and serious neurological problems in millions of people in Vietnam.
2,4-D can get into a child’s body while playing on a lawn treated with this chemical. The substance enters the adult body through GMO soy and cotton, which are most often processed by it.
Exposure to this chemical has previously been linked to cancer and other health problems, although the link between them is still not fully understood.
“Further research should determine how increasing exposure to 2,4-D affects human health, especially when exposure occurs at an early age,” the scientists conclude.