![]()
The copper collapse: How modern farming is quietly undermining human health
kAmwF>2? 962=E9 :? E96 >@56C? H@C=5 :D 2 4@?F?5CF>] ~? E96 DFC7246[ H6 D9@F=5 36 962=E9:6C E92? 6G6C] (6 92G6 >@C6 2446DD E@ 7@@5 2?5 4=62? H2E6C E92? 2E 2?J E:>6 :? 9:DE@CJ] s@4E@CD 2C6 >@C6 42A23=6 E92? 6G6C[ 2?5 >65:42E:@?D 42? 255C6DD 2=>@DE 2?J 4@?5:E:@?]k^Am
kAmp?5 J6E[ 96C6 H6 2C6] wF>2? 962=E9 :D ?@E :>AC@G:?8] x? 6G6? E96 C:496DE ?2E:@?D[ >2?J 962=E9 >2C<6CD 92G6 564=:?65 :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am
kAm{:76 6IA64E2?4J :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ 2D @?6 6I2>A=6[ 92D 366? >@DE=J 7=2E 7@C E96 =2DE EH@ 564256D] xE H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E2]H9@]:?E^4@F?EC:6D^gc_Qm42=4F=2E65 3J E96 (@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@?k^2m 2E fe]g J62CD :? a__`[ 2?5 EH6?EJ J62CD =2E6C[ :E 925 72==6? D=:89E=J E@ fe]c J62CD]k^Am
kAm(6 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2?DH6CD 6G6CJH96C6] ~36D:EJ :D @7E6? 3=2>65 2?5 :D DFC6=J A2CE @7 E96 AC@3=6>] p =24< @7 A9JD:42= 24E:G:EJ :? >@56C? =:76 4@F=5 2=D@ 36 4@?EC:3FE:?8[ 2D 4@F=5 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D]k^Am
kAmqFE H92E :7 E96 2?DH6C H2D D:>A=6C E92? 2?J @7 E9@D6 6IA=2?2E:@?Dn (92E :7 :E H2D C:89E F?56C @FC 766E E96 H9@=6 E:>6n k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H@C=54@AA6CD>:E9]4@>^Qm(@C=5 r@AA6C$>:E9k^2m =@@<D 2E 9@H >@56C? 72C>:?8 E649?:BF6D 92G6 5:>:?:D965 E96 2>@F?E @7 6DD6?E:2= 4@AA6C :? @FC 5:6ED]k^Am
k9bmp s:G@C46 7C@> }2EFC6k^9bm
kAmu@C ?62C=J 2== @7 9F>2? 9:DE@CJ[ A6@A=6 8C6H 2?5 92CG6DE65 E96:C @H? 7@@5] vC@H:?8 7@@5 H2D ;FDE A2CE @7 =:76] xE H2D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 6I:DE 2?J @E96C H2J[ 2?5 36:?8 @?6 H:E9 E96 =2?5 H2D 2D ?2EFC2= 2D 3C62E9:?8]k^Am
kAm%9:?8D 2C6 5:776C6?E E@52J] |@DE A6@A=6 92G6 ?@ :562 H96C6 E96:C 7@@5 4@>6D 7C@> @C 9@H :E H2D 8C@H?] }2EFC6 :D >@C6 4@>>@?=J D66? 2D 2? 6?6>J — 3F8D[ 325 H62E96C[ 2?5 E96 =:<6 — E92? :E :D 2? 2==J] %96 492?86 92D 366? 5C2>2E:4[ 2?5 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J 36?67:4:2=]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 u@@5 $JDE6> !C:>6C 7C@> y@9?D w@A<:?D &?:G6CD:EJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@5DJDE6>AC:>6C]@C8^AC@5F4E:@?^9:DE@CJ\@7\28C:4F=EFC6QmH:56DAC625 28C:4F=EFC6 92D 6I:DE65 7@C 2C@F?5 f[___ J62CDk^2m] *6E :?5FDEC:2= 28C:4F=EFC6 92D @?=J 366? 2 762EFC6 @7 E96 DJDE6> H:E9:? E96 =2DE 46?EFCJ @C D@] pD :E 92D DAC625[ 2?5 E96 FD6 @7 DJ?E96E:4 76CE:=:K6CD 92D 8C@H?[ H6 92G6 364@>6 6G6? 7FCE96C D6A2C2E65 7C@> E96 ?2EFC2= H@C=5 2C@F?5 FD]k^Am
k9bm%96 tDD6?E:2= #@=6 @7 r@AA6C :? wF>2? w62=E9k^9bm
kAmr@AA6C A=2JD 2 DFCAC:D:?8=J G:E2= C@=6 :? 9F>2? 962=E9] %9:D :D ?@E 2? @AE:@?2= >:?6C2=] xE’D ?@E D@>6E9:?8 E92E :D ;FDE ?:46 E@ 92G6] xE’D 6DD6?E:2=[ 2?5 :E’D 364@>:?8 92C56C 2?5 92C56C E@ 7:?5]k^Am
kAm(92E :D :E E92E >2<6D 4@AA6C D@ :>A@CE2?E E@ @FC 4@==64E:G6 962=E9n %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@5D]@5]?:9]8@G^724ED966ED^r@AA6C\w62=E9!C@76DD:@?2=^Qm}2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6D @7 w62=E9 C6A@CEDk^2m E92E 4@AA6C :D ?66565 7@C 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@?[ :C@? >6E23@=:D>[ ?6FC@A6AE:56 24E:G2E:@?[ 2?5 >2?J @E96C 7F?4E:@?D] (9:=6 @?=J 2 >@56DE 2>@F?E @7 4@AA6C :D DE@C65 :? E96 3@5J[ :E :D 4C:E:42= E92E E96 ?646DD2CJ =6G6=D 2C6 >2:?E2:?65] u@C >6? 2?5 H@>6?[ :?E2<6 @7 2AAC@I:>2E6=J h__ >48^52J @7 4@AA6C :D :562=]k^Am
k9bmx?5FDEC:2= u2C>:?8 w2D #@3365 ~FC u@@5k^9bm
kAmxE’D 62DJ E@ 36 D65F465 3J E96 A@D:E:G6 D:56D @7 :?5FDEC:2=\D42=6 72C>:?8] *:6=5D 2C6 @77\E96\492CED 4@>A2C65 E@ AC6G:@FD 7@C>D @7 72C>:?8 E96 =2?5] rC@AD 2C6 C6D:DE2?E E@ >2?J EJA6D @7 5:D62D6D E92E H@F=5 92G6 H:A65 @FE 6?E:C6 7:6=5D AC6G:@FD=J] p?5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ E96 AC:46 @7 DE2A=6 7@@5D :D <6AE :?4C65:3=J =@H]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 2C6 @?=J E96 AC@D[ 9@H6G6C] %96C6 :D 2 4@?D =:DE E@ 36 4@?D:56C65[ 2D H6==[ 2?5 :E 42? =62G6 @?6 H@?56C:?8 :7 E96 4@DE :D H@CE9 :E :? E96 6?5]k^Am
kAm!6C92AD E96 3:886DE E9C62E @7 :?5FDEC:2= 72C>:?8 :D E96 H2J :E 92D DEC:AA65 E96 ?FEC:E:@?2= G2=F6 @FE @7 >2?J @7 @FC >@DE :>A@CE2?E 7@@5D] p k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|r`_hehf_g^QmA2A6C AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= Qu@@5DQk^2m 9:89=:89ED E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 :DDF6] %96 A2A6C D9@HD E92E E96 BF2?E:EJ @7 >:?6C2=D 2G2:=23=6 :? 4@>>@? 4C@AD 92D 564=:?65 D:8?:7:42?E=J @G6C E96 A2DE D:IEJ J62CD]k^Am
kAmx? >2?J 42D6D[ 6=6>6?ED 92G6 5C@AA65 @77 2E 2 C2E6 @7 d_T @C >@C6] r@AA6C H2D 7@F?5 E@ 36 C65F465 3J chT 2D 4@>A2C65 E@ =6G6=D D66? d_\f_ J62CD 28@] ~E96C G2=F23=6 6=6>6?ED E92E 92G6 564=:?65 ?@E23=J :?4=F56 D@5:F>[ :C@?[ 2?5 >28?6D:F>]k^Am
kAm%96 A2A6C A@:?ED E@ E96 >6E9@5D FD65 :? :?5FDEC:2= 72C>:?8 2D E96 C@@E 42FD6 @7 E96 :DDF6] rC@AD 2C6 @AE:>:K65 7@C E9:?8D =:<6 255:E:@?2= J:6=5 2?5 8C@HE9 C2E6 3FE ?@E 7@C ?FEC:6?E =6G6=D] pD 4J4=6D @7 4C@A 56G6=@A>6?E 92G6 4@>6 2?5 8@?6 @G6C E96 564256D[ ?FEC:6?E =6G6=D 92G6 8C25F2==J 564=:?65 2D 2 ?2EFC2= C6DF=E @7 E96 AC:@C:E:6D @7 E96 :?5FDEC:2= 72C>:?8 :?5FDECJ]k^Am
k9bmxD r@AA6C %@I:4:EJ 2 #62= %9C62Enk^9bm
kAm$@>6 A6@A=6 92G6 366? =65 E@ 36=:6G6 E92E 9F>2?D 2C6 @G6C=@2565 H:E9 4@AA6C] %92E H6 92G6 2=C625J C624965 E@I:4 =6G6=D[ 2?5 H6 ?665 E@ E2<6 2 DE6A 324< 2?5 AC@E64E @FCD6=G6D 7C@> E9:D >:?6C2=] %9:D 4@AA6C E@I:4:EJ >JE9 :D >:D8F:565]k^Am
kAm%96 }FEC:E:@? $@FC46[ 2 AF3=:42E:@? @7 E96 w2CG2C5 %]w] r92? $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9[ DE2E6D E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?FEC:E:@?D@FC46]9DA9]92CG2C5]65F^4@AA6C^Qm4@AA6C E@I:4:EJ :D C2C6k^2m :? @E96CH:D6 962=E9J :?5:G:5F2=D] u@C >@DE A6@A=6[ :? >@DE D:EF2E:@?D[ C6249:?8 2 =6G6= @7 4@AA6C :? E96 3@5J E92E :D 4@?D:56C65 E@I:4 :D D:>A=J F?=:<6=J E@ @44FC]k^Am
k9bm%96 s2?86C @7 r@AA6C s67:4:6?4Jk^9bm
kAm~? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 4@:?[ 4@AA6C 567:4:6?4J @776CD D@>6 ?@E23=6 E9C62ED E@ 9F>2? 962=E9] p A2A6C :? E96 y@FC?2= @7 r@>>F?:EJ w@DA:E2= x?E6C?2= |65:4:?6 !6CDA64E:G6D DE2E6D E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|rdebff_c^Qm4=:?:42= 4@AA6C 567:4:6?4J :D ?@H >@C6 7C6BF6?E=J C64@8?:K65k^2m]k^Am
kAmr@AA6C 567:4:6?4J DJ>AE@>D 42? 36 BF:E6 D6C:@FD] %96J :?4=F56 2?6>:2[ H9:49 42? C6DF=E :? 72E:8F6 2?5 H62<?6DD[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 =@DD @7 4@@C5:?2E:@? 2?5 32=2?46[ 2?5 A@E6?E:2= ?6CG6 52>286] $@>6 :?5:G:5F2=D H:== 2=D@ 6IA6C:6?46 @DE6@A@C@D:D[ 2? :?4C62D65 C:D< @7 :?764E:@?[ 2?5 :>A2:C65 >6>@CJ]k^Am
kAm|2:?E2:?:?8 AC@A6C =6G6=D @7 4@AA6C :? E96 3@5J :D :>A@CE2?E[ J6E 567:4:6?4J :D 364@>:?8 >@C6 4@>>@?] p AC@3=6> E92E H2D?’E @7E6? D66? :? AC6G:@FD 86?6C2E:@?D :D ?@H AC6D6?E:?8 >@C6 @7E6? :? E96 286 @7 :?5FDEC:2= 28C:4F=EFC6]k^Am
k9bm$FAA=6>6?ED pC6 }@E E96 p?DH6Ck^9bm
kAm|2?J 6DD6?E:2= G:E2>:?D 2?5 >:?6C2=D 42? 36 DFAA=6>6?E65 :? DJ?E96E:4 7@C> H96? E96J 2C6?’E 4@?DF>65 :? ?646DD2CJ BF2?E:E:6D :? E96 5:6E] $FAA=6>6?ED 2C6 2G2:=23=6 E@52J 7@C ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJE9:?8 9F>2?D ?665 E@ DE2J 962=E9J[ 2?5 >2?J @7 E96> H@C< H6==]k^Am
kAmr@AA6C D66>D E@ 36 2? 6I46AE:@?] xE’D 62DJ E@ E2<6 6?@F89 4@AA6C :? DFAA=6>6?E 7@C> E@ >66E E96 52:=J DF886DE65 =6G6=D[ 3FE 9@H H6== E92E 4@AA6C H:== 36 23D@C365 :D 2?@E96C BF6DE:@?] %96 3:@2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 4@AA6C :? 2 DFAA=6>6?E D66>D E@ 72== D9@CE @7 H92E :D D66? H:E9 4@AA6C :? H9@=6 7@@5D] r@>A6E:?8 >2E6C:2=D 2=D@ AC6D6?E :? DFAA=6>6?ED[ =:<6 K:?4[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AF3>65]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^fagadh`^Qm42? AC6G6?E 4@AA6C 7C@> 36:?8 AC@A6C=J 23D@C365k^2m] &D:?8 4@AA6C DFAA=6>6?ED 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 567:4:6?E >2J 36 36EE6C E92? ?@E9:?8 2E 2==[ 3FE :E 5@6D?’E D66> E@ 36 2 AC@A6C C6A=246>6?E 7@C E96 C62= E9:?8]k^Am
k9bmu:?5:?8 E96 #:89E u@@5 $@FC46Dk^9bm
kAm%96 2?DH6C 96C6 :D E@ 4@?DF>6 E96 C:89E EJA6D @7 7@@5 E@ 24BF:C6 E96 ?646DD2CJ =6G6=D @7 3:@2G2:=23=6 4@AA6C 52:=J] (9:=6 :E’D ECF6 E92E :?5FDEC:2= 72C>:?8 92D DEC:AA65 >F49 @7 E96 4@AA6C @FE @7 @FC 7@@5D[ :E’D ?@E 2== 8@?6] qJ 62E:?8 E96 C:89E EJA6 @7 5:6E[ :E :D A@DD:3=6 E@ 86E 962=E9J =6G6=D @7 4@AA6C H:E9@FE 92G:?8 E@ EFC? E@ DFAA=6>6?ED]k^Am
kAmq667 =:G6C :D E96 =6256C H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 86EE:?8 4@AA6C :?E@ E96 9F>2? 3@5J] %9:D 7@@5 4@?E2:?D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H63>5]4@>^5:6E^7@@5D\9:89\:?\4@AA6CQm9:896C 4@?46?EC2E:@? @7 4@AA6Ck^2m E92? 2?J @E96C] yFDE 2 76H @F?46D @7 3667 =:G6C 42? 56=:G6C >@C6 E92? `e[___ >:4C@8C2>D @7 4@AA6C] t2E:?8 E9:D 7@@5 @?46 A6C H66< :D 2 BF:4< 2?5 62DJ H2J E@ 6=:>:?2E6 2?J H@CC:6D @G6C 4@AA6C 567:4:6?4J]k^Am
kAmu@C E9@D6 H9@ 5@?’E H2?E E@ 4@?DF>6 3667 =:G6C[ @E96C DEC@?8 D@FC46D @7 4@AA6C 6I:DE] %9@D6 :?4=F56 @JDE6CD[ >FD9C@@>D[ 42D96HD[ DF?7=@H6C D665D[ 2?5 A@E2E@6D] q6:?8 :?E6?E:@?2= H:E9 5:6E2CJ 49@:46D :D =:<6=J E96 36DE 2G2:=23=6 @AE:@? 4FCC6?E=J E@ 86E 2C@F?5 E96 92C> E92E :?5FDEC:2= 72C>:?8 92D 5@?6 E@ E96 ?FEC:6?E =@25 @7 >2?J >@56C? 4C@AD]k^Am
k9bm#6E9:?<:?8 ~FC #6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 w62=E9k^9bm
kAm{@D:?8 @FC 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 =2?5 92D 925 D6C:@FD :>A24ED @? 9F>2? 962=E9] %FC?:?8 @G6C E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 8C@H:?8 2?5 92CG6DE:?8 7@@5 E@ =2C86 4@CA@C2E:@?D 92D 4@>6 H:E9 36?67:ED[ E@ 36 DFC6[ 3FE 2=D@ 5C2H324<D E92E 92G6 49:AA65 2H2J 2E E96 ?FEC:6?ED 4C:E:42= E@ =:76]k^Am
kAm%96C6 :D?’E 2? :>>65:2E6[ D:>A=6 D@=FE:@? E@ E96 AC@3=6>D E92E 92G6 366? C2:D65 3J :?5FDEC:2=\D42=6 72C>:?8] x?5:G:5F2=D[ 9@H6G6C[ 42? 24E :? E96:C @H? 36DE :?E6C6DED E@ =:>:E E96 52>286] %92E DE2CED 3J 7:?5:?8 E96 C:89E 7@@5 D@FC46D 7@C 3:@2G2:=23=6 4@AA6C[ 2D >6?E:@?65 23@G6] $@>6 A6@A=6 H:== 6G6? 8C@H 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96 7@@5 E96J 62E[ 7:?5:?8 G2=F23=6 ?FEC:E:@? C:89E :? E96:C @H? 324<J2C5D]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H@C=54@AA6CD>:E9]4@>^2CE:4=6D^E96\4@AA6C\567:4:6?4J\4C:D:D\?@\@?6\:D\E2=<:?8\23@FE^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H@C=54@AA6CD>:E9]4@>^Qmk6>m(@C=5 r@AA6C$>:E9k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.