Dangerous Fruits & Vegetables

Most of us shop choosing produce that we like to eat and comparing price – does it look fresh, is it on sale? But appearances are deceiving. Those beautiful apples, peaches or grapes may look great, but they are loaded with toxic pesticides and other chemicals that are hazardous to your health. Pesticides are endemic in the way all our food is produced, except that which is labeled as USDA organic. The amount and kinds of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides used, varies depending on the fruit or vegetable and where it is grown.

In America, we have some restrictions on the amount and type of pesticide that can be used based on determinations of ‘tolerance levels’. These ‘acceptable levels’ are obtained using risk assessments performed by the pesticide manufacturers – an arrangement that seems likely to skew results to find pesticides safe to use at levels that may not be compatible with our best interests. Even so, the tests are done only for single pesticides at minimal exposure levels. The compounding effects of exposure to multiple pesticides via air, food and water have simply not been done. Do you wonder why?

Since the use of organophosphate pesticides continues to increase exponentially, our total exposure is much higher than has been tested for safety. Independent studies have shown neuro-toxic effects on developing animals from organophosphate pesticides at legally tolerable levels. There is substantial evidence that long term health risks including Parkinson’s disease and diabetes can result from cumulative exposure.

Farm workers have been afflicted with cancers, respiratory problems, memory disorders, dermatologic conditions, depression, neurological deficits, miscarriages, and birth defects. I can’t help but wonder if our exposure isn’t increasing to levels endured by farm workers through cumulative exposure. It would certainly seem that the diseases that have been tied to pesticide exposure are on the rise and I can’t help but worry about the connection.

“Children have been found to be especially susceptible to the harmful effects of pesticides. A number of research studies have found higher instances of brain cancer, leukemia and birth defects in children with early exposure to pesticides, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.” Wikipedia. Mothers exposed to pesticides via food or through other channels are known to pass on the chemicals to their fetus where is can have profound consequences – miscarriages and birth defects are well documented at ‘tolerable levels’ of exposure.

Mandatory pesticide applications in school and office buildings to prevent pest infestation are regularly reapplied and represent a much higher level of cumulative exposure than studies have evaluated for safety. “No testing has ever been done specifically pertaining to threats among children.” Wikipedia  To me, the cumulative impact of pesticides on our food is an obvious health hazard to all of us, but especially to our children.  Thankfully, there is an alternative that is completely free of pesticide residue, artificial hormones, genetic modification and other petrochemical contaminants – Organic food.

Organic farmers have successfully managed pests with biological pest controls, composting, crop rotation, polyculture (growing different plants together) and non chemical methods of interfering with insect breeding. In the U.S., farmers have also had success controlling pests by steam cleaning the soil at a cost that is about the same as pesticide spraying. This technique forces steam into the soil and has the added benefit of curing soil fatigue through the release of nutritive substances that were blocked prior to the treatment. In essence, it revitalizes the soil and promotes quicker growth and strengthened resistance against plant disease and pests.

Granted, organic foods do cost more and often don’t look as pristine and perfect. But, they are more nutrient rich because the soil they are grown on is vital and healthy. Eating even a few organic foods can greatly reduce the pesticide risk to your health. Particularly, certain fruits and vegetables consistently show up with high pesticide residue or use pesticides that cannot be removed by peeling or washing. According to the EPA:

Top fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residue include:

* Peaches and Nectarines: Peaches require a large amount of pesticides to grow conventionally and have extremely delicate skin, making them the top organic fruit pick – with nectarines not far behind.

* Apples: Apples are the second priority when choosing organic produce, as their pesticide loads consistently test high.

* Bell Peppers: Bell peppers are the number one vegetable to buy organic. They have thin skins and are heavily sprayed with insecticides.

* Celery: Celery lacks a protective outer layer and needs many different chemicals for conventional growth, making it number two on the list of vegetables to buy organic.

* Strawberries: Strawberries rank high on the organic priority list. They are treated with very large amounts of pesticides, including fungicides. When purchased out-of-season, they probably come from a country with inadequate pesticide regulations.

* Cherries: Cherries continually rank high for pesticide contamination.

* Lettuce and Spinach: Lettuce and spinach are often found to have high levels of various pesticides – sometimes very potent types.

* Imported Grapes: Imported grapes are likely to have higher pesticide levels than domestic. Vineyards may be sprayed with a number of different pesticides throughout the growing season. Because grapes have a permeable skin, even peeling will not eliminate the residues.

* Pears: Pears consistently show high levels of pesticides when tested.

* Potatoes: Potatoes are at high risk for pesticide contamination and may also be affected by chemicals, such as fungicides, in the surrounding soil.

* Tomatoes: consistently among the highest levels of pesticide residue that cannot be removed by washing or peeling.

Safer Non-Organic Foods – produce that has a lower pesticide residue include:

* Fruit: pineapple, mango, kiwi, banana, mango, papaya, blueberries, watermelon

* Vegetables: onions, avocado, sweet corn (may be GM), sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, brussel sprouts

While this article doesn’t address other food stuffs, such as dairy products, eggs, meats and grains, all of these products are equally affected by the pesticide problem as well as other additives such as artificial hormones. I hope to address these issues in future articles.

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