by Bruce Bowman
Increasing fruit and vegetables in our diets is important for our health. One study found that eating produce three times a day resulted in a lower risk of stroke, hypertension, and death from cardiovascular disease. Increasing vegetable and fruit consumption could prevent 20,000 cancer cases annually. If we are to increase the amount of produce we eat, what level of concern should we have about pesticides in conventionally grown produce?
| Pesticides in produce Pesticides are herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, disinfectantsPesticides are linked with endocrine disrupters, with fertility issues, immune system damage, neurological problems and possibly autismAlways buy organic from the ‘Dirty Dozen List’Consider ‘Clean 15’ produce items to buy conventionally grown |
Traditional agricultural food sources are heavily dependent on the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Pesticides are any substances used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life considered to be pests. Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects, fungicides to prevent the growth of molds and mildew, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and compounds used to control mice and rats.
EPA reports about one billion pounds of conventional pesticides are used annually in the US. The federal agency that tests our foods is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has found it is rare for the produce in tested samples to exceed limits on pesticides and other chemicals. EPA limits are calculated on “reasonable certainty of no harm.”
Interestingly, Consumer Reports (CR) and other sources regularly identify which of our produce is more heavily laden with pesticides. CR lists five items to always buy organic: Peaches, carrots, strawberries, green beans, and sweet bell peppers. The five that have the least pesticides by CR are: broccoli, oranges, lettuce, onions, and grapes. These have the least health risk when grown by conventional agriculture. Some surveys still identify grapes as being problematic. Consumer Reports article also breaks down the produce by country of origin as they may have a varying burdens of pesticide contamination for the same produce.
Not only has CR investigated pesticide content on conventionally grown produce but so has EWG, Environmental Work Group. EWG has a more extensive list of pesticides levels in produce. They generate 2 lists, ‘The Dirty Dozen’ and the ‘Clean Fifteen’. They recommend to always buy organic produce in the ‘Dirty Dozen’ category. Their Dirty Dozen list includes: Strawberries, Spinach, Kale, Nectarines, Apples, grapes, cherries, peaches, pears, bell and hot peppers, celery, and tomatoes.
EWG’s list of clean fifteen include: avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, sweet peas(frozen), eggplant, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kiwi, cauliflower, mushrooms, honeydew melons, and cantaloupe. You may feel more comfortable eating these as conventionally grown.
Pesticides are poisons and are of greatest health significance to farmworkers due risk of concentrated occupational exposure. Studies have linked long-term pesticide exposure in this group to increased risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease; prostate, ovarian, and other cancers; depression; and respiratory problems. There is also a risk to fetuses, babies, and children who are more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides because their organs and nervous systems are still developing and pesticide dose per unit of body weight is higher. Consumers using pesticides on lawns, and gardens are also at risk especially when they are used incorrectly. There has been recent successful litigation against Monsanto for their weed killing product Roundup as a cancer-causing pesticide in consumers.
The CDC has identified 29 different pesticide residues in the average Americans’ body. The effects of pesticide residue mixtures are not well tested, and results are unknown. Crops are often sprayed many times during a growing season, as many as 20 different applications of chemicals in one growing season can be applied to wheat for example.
Many of us clearly remember the impact of the pesticides such as DDT and its horrific effects on bird populations and the environment. Thankfully, through regulation, this pesticide has been removed and there has been significant recovery of endangered birds such as the American Bald eagle amongst others. I remember seeing very few if any birds of prey when I was a child.
Research has linked pesticides with endocrine disrupters, with fertility issues, immune system damage, and neurological problems. Studies suggest that an offspring’s risk of autism spectrum disorder increases following prenatal exposure to ambient pesticides within 2000 m of their mother’s residence during pregnancy, compared with offspring of women from the same agricultural region without such exposure. Infant exposure could further increase risks for autism spectrum disorder with comorbid intellectual disability. In the 1970s and 1980s, about one out of every 2,000 children had autism. Now according to the CDC that rate is 1 in 44 children will have autism. Many health problems we see today are likely from multifactorial cause. The spectrum of man made chemicals such as pesticides contribute to the multifactorial causes of illnesses we find today. We should do what we can to lower exposure to all these chemicals
Washing or peeling fruit and vegetables under running water can potentially reduce exposure to pesticides for residues that are on the surface of the produce. Washing will eliminate traces of soil which may contain harmful bacteria. Although washing or peeling will reduce the level of pesticides found on the outside of an item, they are unlikely to remove all pesticide residues. Many of the pesticides used are ‘systemic’, meaning that they are absorbed by a plant when applied to seeds, soil, or leaves and the residues are therefore contained within the produce itself so removing the skin or washing will not help.
| Action item: consider buying organic, especially for the Dirty Dozen list. Thoroughly wash all your produce. |
Buying local is one consideration often given in purchasing produce and meats. This is good for local economy and supports our farmers. Environmentally this reduces the carbon footprint in not having to utilize fossil fuels to bring you your purchases. It is reasonable to ask about the pesticide usage on the produce you purchase.
TALK Environment group seeks to promote conversations about the environment and climate change in our community. If you have a related topic which you are passionate about, please send your ideas and suggestions for future articles to: prez@talk-action.org. All articles are archived on the TALK website https://talk-action.org.