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INVISIBLE OVERLOAD > PESTICIDES
PESTICIDES
Pesticides can disrupt delicate ecosystems, often harming pollinators like butterflies and bees that are vital to environmental balance.
GMO - BIOENGINEERED CROPS
While genetically modified organisms (GMOs) offer certain agricultural advantages, such as increased yield and herbicide tolerance, they also come with potential downsides. One concern is the heavy reliance on herbicides like glyphosate, which can lead to environmental issues, such as resistant "superweeds" that no longer respond to the chemical and require even stronger herbicides to control. There are also worries about the long-term health effects of consuming GMO foods, especially regarding residual chemicals, though current evidence is still debated and ongoing research is needed. Additionally, GMO crops may reduce biodiversity, as large-scale farming of a few engineered varieties can displace diverse traditional crops and wild plants. From a socioeconomic standpoint, GMO seeds are often patented, meaning farmers must purchase new seeds each season rather than saving seeds from previous harvests—this can create financial pressure and dependence on biotech companies. These issues raise broader concerns about food sovereignty, sustainability, and corporate control of the food system.
PESTICIDES
Pesticides are substances used in agriculture to protect crops from weeds, insects, fungi, and other threats that can reduce yields or damage plants. They’re grouped into categories based on their target: herbicides kill unwanted plants, insecticides control insects, and fungicides prevent mold and disease. While pesticides play a major role in modern farming, they can leave residues on food and contribute to environmental concerns like soil degradation, water contamination, and harm to beneficial insects. The health impact of long-term exposure—especially through food—depends on the type of pesticide, how much is used, and how often it’s consumed.
GLYPHOSATE
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide designed to kill weeds by disrupting a plant’s ability to make essential proteins. It works by blocking a specific enzyme pathway called the shikimate pathway, which plants use to synthesize certain amino acids. Without these amino acids, the plant can’t grow and eventually dies. While humans don’t have this pathway, the beneficial bacteria in our gut do—which raises concerns about glyphosate’s potential to disrupt the microbiome. Glyphosate is absorbed through plant leaves and stems, making it systemic, meaning it moves throughout the entire plant—including the parts we eat.
HEALTH RISKS
Growing concerns surround glyphosate’s impact on human health. Research points to its potential to disrupt the gut microbiome—our body’s frontline defense for immunity and digestion—and raise the risk of oxidative stress and DNA damage. It’s been linked to kidney and liver toxicity, hormone disruption, and even neurological issues. Perhaps most alarming, the World Health Organization has classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, raising serious questions about its widespread use in our food system.
GLYPHOSATE AS DRYING AGENT
Grain crops (even NON GMO), including wheat, oats, barley, and legumes, are often sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant shortly before harvest. This practice helps dry out the crop evenly, speeds up harvesting, and can prevent mold or spoilage, especially in wetter climates. However, because glyphosate is applied so close to harvest, there’s a higher chance that residue remains on the final product. This has raised health concerns, especially for foods like cereals and baked goods made from treated grains. It’s one reason some people choose organic grains, which prohibit the use of synthetic herbicides like glyphosate.
NON GMO CROPS & PESTICIDES
While non-GMO (traditional) crops can’t tolerate glyphosate—it kills them—that doesn’t mean they’re grown without chemicals. Farmers often use other herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides to protect their crops, so 'non-GMO' doesn’t mean 'chemical-free.
ARE PESTICIDES MAKING US FAT?
Emerging research suggests that certain pesticides may play a role in weight gain. Some pesticides are classified as obesogens—chemicals that can disrupt the body’s metabolism and hormonal balance, potentially leading to increased fat storage, insulin resistance, and changes in appetite regulation. These substances can interfere with the endocrine system, which controls many processes including how the body uses and stores energy.
CORRELATION OR CAUSATION?
While correlation does not prove causation, the striking rise in chronic diseases over the past 40 years alongside increased glyphosate use raises important questions about potential connections—especially given glyphosate’s widespread presence in the food supply and environment.
Tobacco is used in its raw leaf form, without washing, peeling, or cooking—so any pesticides sprayed on the plant remain on the leaf.
SOURCES
Sources for "Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)" National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) – Genetically Modified Foods https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/genetically-modified-foods/index.cfm (Overview of GMOs, potential health concerns, and environmental impacts.) Non-GMO Project – What is a GMO? https://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/what-is-gmo/ (Defines GMOs and explains why some consumers seek non-GMO foods.) Sources for "Pesticides in Food" Environmental Working Group (EWG) – Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce (Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen) https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/ (Annual report showing which fruits and vegetables carry the highest and lowest pesticide residues.) United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Pesticides: Health and Safety https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/pesticides-health-and-safety (Official information on how pesticides are regulated for safety, and potential health risks.) Sources for "Glyphosate" International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization – Glyphosate Monograph https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono112-10.pdf (Glyphosate classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" by IARC.) Environmental Working Group (EWG) – Glyphosate in Cereal https://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth/glyphosateincereal/ (Highlights glyphosate residues found in common cereals and concerns about long-term exposure.) Sources for "Glyphosate: Gut Microbiome Disruption, Oxidative Stress, and Toxicity" Environmental Health Perspectives – Glyphosate, Microbiota, and Disease https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP6993 (Details how glyphosate exposure may disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting immunity and digestion.) International Journal of Molecular Sciences – Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage Induced by Glyphosate https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8622356/ (Explores how glyphosate increases oxidative stress and causes DNA damage in cells.) Environmental Research – Kidney and Liver Toxicity from Chronic Low-Dose Glyphosate Exposure https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935116304869 (Study linking low-level glyphosate exposure to signs of liver and kidney damage.) Environmental Health Journal – Glyphosate and Endocrine Disruption https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-019-0484-4 (Reviews evidence suggesting glyphosate may disrupt hormone signaling pathways.) Sources for "Glyphosate as a Pre-Harvest Drying Agent" U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Economic Research Service – The Spread of Glyphosate Use and Pre-Harvest Applications https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/93547/eib-204.pdf (Explains how farmers use glyphosate pre-harvest to dry out crops like wheat, oats, and legumes for easier harvesting.) Environmental Working Group (EWG) – Glyphosate Use in Pre-Harvest Crop Drying https://www.ewg.org/research/glyphosate-preharvest-crop-drying/ (Details which foods are most likely to contain glyphosate residues because of pre-harvest spraying.) Sources for "Non-GMO Crops Are Not Necessarily Pesticide-Free" Non-GMO Project – Non-GMO Does Not Mean Pesticide-Free https://www.nongmoproject.org/blog/non-gmo-does-not-mean-pesticide-free/ (Explains that non-GMO crops can still be grown with chemical pesticides — Non-GMO labeling only means the seed wasn’t genetically modified.) USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) – Pesticide Use on Non-GMO Crops https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2021/Pesticide-Use.php (Reports that pesticide application is common in both GMO and non-GMO conventional farming systems.) Sources for "Pesticides, Obesogens, and Weight Gain" National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) – Obesogens: Environmental Links to Obesity https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/obesity/index.cfm (Describes how certain chemicals, including pesticides, may promote fat storage, hormone disruption, and metabolic changes.) Frontiers in Endocrinology – Obesogens and Their Role in the Obesity Epidemic https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.00057/full (Scientific review linking specific pesticide exposures to weight gain, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances.) Sources for "Correlation Between Glyphosate Use and Rise in Chronic Diseases" Journal of Organic Systems – Genetically Engineered Crops, Glyphosate, and the Deterioration of Health in the United States of America (Swanson et al., 2014) https://www.organic-systems.org/journal/92/JOS_Vol9_2_Swanson_et_al.pdf (Presents statistical correlations between increased glyphosate use and rising rates of diseases like diabetes, dementia, and liver cancer.) (This is actually the source of the exact graphs you included.) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – Glyphosate Monograph https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono112-10.pdf (Classifies glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans," supporting the concern that widespread exposure could contribute to disease.) CDC – Causation vs. Correlation – Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson3/section5.html (Explains clearly that correlation does not imply causation, which matches the responsible tone you used.)