Commercial preparations of diatomaceous earth did as well as the organophosphate in all cases bar one (a beetle called the lesser grain borer in sorghum).

ECONOMIST: Pest control

In collaboration with Zimbabwe's Institute for Agricultural Engineering, she tested diatomaceous earth against a common organophosphate pesticide in three of Zimbabwe's regions, and on three crops: sorghum, maize and cowpeas.

ECONOMIST: Pest control

In a representative sample of produce tested by the agency, 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 20 percent of celery, and 25 percent of strawberries contained traces of one type of organophosphate.

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They were adopted over the past 20 years as a less toxic replacement of organophosphate pesticides, which are known to kill bees and wildlife, and have been linked to health problems in workers.

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In the third study, which also looked at children in New York City, researchers found that the association between organophosphate exposure and developmental delays was more pronounced in children whose mothers had a certain genetic variant that influences an enzyme that breaks down organophosphates.

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To investigate, scientists looked at two common pesticides: neonicotinoids, which are used to control pests on oil seed rape and other crops, and a group of organophosphate chemicals called coumaphos, which are used to kill the Varroa mite, a parasite that attacks the honey bee.

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