Pesticides are chemicals used to control agricultural pests that damage crops and livestock. The most commonly used pesticides include: insecticides to kill insects; herbicides to kill weeds; nematocides to kill worms; rodenticides to kill rodents; and fungicides to control fungi, mold, and mildew. Over 1 billion tons of pesticides are used on crops in the United States every year, however less than 1% actually reaches the targeted organism. The remainder contaminates our air, soil, and water in addition to other plants and animals.
Pesticides are lipid (fat) soluble and accumulate in our fatty tissues; hence they are a danger to human health. Many of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, immune system suppression, birth defects, damage to the nervous system, and disruption of hormones. Concentration of these chemicals increases at each step of our food chain.
According to a report from the Pesticide Action Network of North America, U.S. consumers may experience up to 70 exposures daily to residues on food from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveals that, even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others.
Pesticide exposure may be reduced up to 90% by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Based on over 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization, determined that eating the produce listed below exposes you to approximately 15 common pesticides. The EWG has labelled these fruits and vegetables as “the dirty dozen”.
- Peaches – Peaches are at the top of the list with an average of three (and maximum of nine) pesticides found on a single sample. Over 96% of the samples tested showed traces of pesticides.
- Apples – Thirty -six pesticides in total were found on 92% of the apples tested, most commonly Diphenylamine (DPA), Thiabendazole, and Azinphos methyl, all of which can damage the nervous system.
- Sweet bell peppers – This food had the maximum number of pesticides on a single sample, eleven. In total, sixty-four different pesticides were found on over 81% of sampled bell peppers. Methamidophos, Acephate, and Endosulfans were repeatedly identified.
- Celery – 94% of the samples tested contained pesticides, most notably Dicloran, Acephate, and Oxamyl.
- Nectarines – Among fruits testing positive for pesticide residue, nectarines had the highest percentage (97% of samples tested. The three most frequently found were Iprodione, Phosmet, and Propargite.
- Strawberries – Thirty-five dangerous pesticides in total were found on strawberries, the most common being Captan, Iprodione, and Methomyl, a known hormone disrupter.
- Cherries – Twenty-five different pesticides were found on 91% of the cherries sampled. The most commonly found were Azinphos methyl, Myclobutanil, and Carbaryl, which has been shown to interfere with the immune system. It may cause behavioural and neurological disorders. Reproductive side effects include decreased sperm and fertility, higher fetal mortality and lower birth weights.
- Pears - Thirty-two different pesticides were identified on the pears sampled, among them Azinphos methyl, Diphenylamine (DPA), and Thiabendazole, a pesticide known to damage the reproductive system.
- Grapes (imported) - Thirty-five pesticides were found on imported grapes including Captan, Iprodione, and Dimethoate.
- Spinach - The three pesticides found most often on spinach were Permethrin Total, DDT, and Dimethoate.
- Lettuce – Forty-nine different pesticides were found on lettuce with up to nine on a single sample.
- Potatoes – In terms of parts per million (ppm), potatoes had the highest score. An average of 1.655 ppm of all pesticides was identified on potatoes. The most common were Chlorpropham, Thiabendazole, and Endosulfans,.
To reduce your exposure to pesticides, try to buy organic varieties of these foods. Buying organic produce reduces health risks and respects our environment. If you can't buy organic produce, you need to make sure you wash it thoroughly. Use this spray to make sure your fruit and vegetables are squeaky clean. Still, there are some commercial farming practices that use "systemics" meaning the poisons are taken up by the root system and end up throughout the plant, ultimately being a total part of the produce eaten. Only "topical" sprays can be washed off. Keep this in mind.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. baking soda
- 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract*
Combine all ingredients in a large container. Then, transfer to a spray bottle with a pump. Spray mixture on produce, and rinse thoroughly after 5 to 10 minutes.
*Grapefruit seed extract is available at your local health food store.
3. Pesticide Action Network North America. "Nowhere to Hide: Persistent Toxic Chemicals in the U.S. Food Supply." Kristin Schafer, 2000.