Fruit and Vegetables Highest in Pesticides

What are pesticides?

A pesticide is a poisonous chemical or mixture of chemicals that is produced or manufactured for preventing, repelling, or killing any pest. Pests are living organisms that are present where they are not wanted or that cause damage to crops or humans or other animals. Examples include: insects, mice and other rodents, unwanted plants (e.g. weeds), fungi and microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Pesticides is a general term that includes insecticides (for insect control), herbicides (for weed control), rodenticides (for rodent control), fungicides (for control of plant disease fungi), miticides (for mite control), as well as wood preservatives, disinfectants, products that control algae, etc.

What health problems are associated with exposure to pesticides?

Pesticides can cause harm to humans and animals because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms. Overseas studies have shown that young children, have an increased risk of getting leukaemia or sarconomas if they live in a home where pesticides are often used, either in the home or garden. Childhood brain cancer has also been linked to the use of some pesticides.

Symptoms of short-term exposure to pesticides include

• Dizziness
• Vomiting/ Nausea
• Headaches
• Difficulty sleeping
• Skin rashes
• Muscle twitches and pain
• Flu-like fever
• Breathing difficulties

Exposure to a high concentration of pesticide could result in death and long term exposure to pesticides can lead to more serious and permanent damage including: cancers, brain damage in children, lowered IQ, permanent kidney damage,

Most pesticides persist in the environment for a long time and can continue to have harmful health effects long after they have been applied.

Lists of Fruits and Veggies with the Highest Pesticides

Several organisations publish lists of produce with the highest pesticide levels. These vary somewhat in their findings, but some fruits and vegetable appear on both lists.

Strawberries - The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) in America lists strawberries as the fresh produce with the highest amount of pesticides. OCA looked at data from the Consumers Union and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to compile its list. The EWG ranks strawberries as the third ‘dirtiest’ fruit or vegetable.

Celery - Celery, number one on the EWG's contaminated produce list, ranks as number seven on the OCA site. Look for organic celery, grown without pesticides and using natural fertilisers, manual weed control and natural insect control methods.

Peaches - Peaches occupy the second most contaminated spot of the EWG list, ranking in fifth place on the OCA site. Canned peaches, on the other hand, contain low levels of pesticides, according to the OCA. Peeling peaches also helps remove pesticide residue.

Peppers - Red peppers occupied the number two spot on the OCA list.

Spinach - Spinach, a green leafy vegetable, is number four on the OCA list and number eight on the EWG list of ‘dirty’ produce. Spinach is another easy-to-grow vegetable, according to the OCA.

Lettuce - Lettuce ranked number 13 on the EWG site, but missed the top 15 on the OCA site.

Cherries - Cherries ranked number four on the OCA's list of contaminated produce, and number nine on the EWG list. Cherries from the United States contain three times as much pesticide residue as cherries from other countries, which rank among the cleanest fruits and vegetables, according to the OCA. Buying cherries from outside the United States or Canada lowers the risk of pesticide residue, the OCA explains.

Apples - Apples rank number four on the EWG list of ‘dirty’ produce and number eight on the OCA list. Apple juice, unlike the apple itself, contains little pesticide residue, the OCA says, which makes it a good substitute for fresh apples. Peeling apples also helps remove residue.

Remember

When purchasing any of these fruits and vegetables try choose organic which will contain no chemical pesticides