You and your children may be ingesting up to 70 types of pesticide residues every single day, according to a report released by the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA). These residues are classed in a group of toxic chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and could potentially harm the health of you and your family. Buying organic food may help.
Exposure to persistent organic pollutants has been linked to several serious human health conditions, including certain cancers, suppression of the immune system, disruption of nervous and hormonal systems, and reproductive system damage. The highest exposures in our country are experienced by those living in the Southeast, with the lowest exposures in the Midwest of the country.
Although the use of chemicals that lead to these residues have been widely banned in many countries, including America, they have not been properly controlled in other countries, many of which provide the US with fresh produce. We are exposed to these chemicals when we eat food produced in other countries and through waterways and precipitation as POPs are carried around the globe through the natural water cycle.
But lest you think Americans are free of chemicals pesticides that can harm our health, think again. American crops are exposed to over 500 kinds of pesticides equal to greater than 50,000 tons annually. And the big shocker is that little more than one percent of these chemicals actually reach their intended targets! The rest gets washed away into the environment where they permeate our soil and water.
Exposure to pesticides and POPs is of particular concern for parents with young children. Children have higher metabolisms and lower body weights than adults, making them more susceptible to the effects of pesticide exposure. In fact, there are over 300,000 cases of pesticide poisoning in the US every year. Some studies suggest that pesticides can contribute to the incidence of Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s diseases, too.
Beware! The fruits, veggies, and other foods with the highest levels of pesticides are:
Exposure to persistent organic pollutants has been linked to several serious human health conditions, including certain cancers, suppression of the immune system, disruption of nervous and hormonal systems, and reproductive system damage. The highest exposures in our country are experienced by those living in the Southeast, with the lowest exposures in the Midwest of the country.
Although the use of chemicals that lead to these residues have been widely banned in many countries, including America, they have not been properly controlled in other countries, many of which provide the US with fresh produce. We are exposed to these chemicals when we eat food produced in other countries and through waterways and precipitation as POPs are carried around the globe through the natural water cycle.
But lest you think Americans are free of chemicals pesticides that can harm our health, think again. American crops are exposed to over 500 kinds of pesticides equal to greater than 50,000 tons annually. And the big shocker is that little more than one percent of these chemicals actually reach their intended targets! The rest gets washed away into the environment where they permeate our soil and water.
Exposure to pesticides and POPs is of particular concern for parents with young children. Children have higher metabolisms and lower body weights than adults, making them more susceptible to the effects of pesticide exposure. In fact, there are over 300,000 cases of pesticide poisoning in the US every year. Some studies suggest that pesticides can contribute to the incidence of Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s diseases, too.
Beware! The fruits, veggies, and other foods with the highest levels of pesticides are:
- Summer squash
- Cantaloupe
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Winter squash
- Cucumbers
- Butter
- Meatloaf
- Peanuts
Although buying organic food won’t be a sure-fire way of avoiding pesticides and POPs (virtually all foods are contaminated with POPs according to PANNA), it can go a long way to reducing your exposure. More importantly, it will signal to the government and the agriculture industry that you don’t support the use of conventional farming methods. Consumer choices speak volumes, so make yourself heard!
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