The Risk Of Eating Pesticides

Doing the research through our families healing journey revealed the unsettling presence of chemicals in our waterways and carcinogens in our food supply. However, the specific details regarding the types, locations, and quantities of these substances become unclear.  Numerous studies have long associated pesticide exposure, particularly in occupational settings, with various health problems, including fertility issues. Recent research suggests that consuming pesticides through our diet can have similar adverse effects.Opting for organic varieties of fruits and vegetables, which typically carry a significant pesticide burden, can reduce your exposure.If you are pregnant, attempting to conceive, or breastfeeding, it becomes even more crucial to prioritize organic eating. In January, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health discovered that women trying to get pregnant could significantly enhance their chances of conceiving by consuming fruits and vegetables with fewer pesticide residues. The study involved 325 women undergoing infertility treatment who completed a dietary questionnaire. The findings revealed that women who reported consuming two or more servings per day of fruits and vegetables containing high levels of pesticide residues had a lower probability of a successful pregnancy compared to those who consumed fewer servings of such foods.

It is equally important for men to be mindful of the pesticides they consume. A previous study conducted at Harvard involving male participants revealed a correlation between pesticide exposure and semen quality. The authors advised caution and recommended replication of the study with different populations before drawing firm conclusions. Senior author Jorge Chavarro stated, “I am now more inclined to purchase organic apples than I was a few months ago.”

Both studies align with the categorization of higher and lower pesticide foods found in the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, known as the Dirty Dozen™ and Clean Fifteen™ lists. The EWG guide is based on laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Testing Program and the Food and Drug Administration. The USDA’s analysis discovered 230 different pesticides in over 38,000 samples of produce.Since 1995, the EWG has compiled lists of fruits and vegetables with the highest and lowest levels of pesticide residues. The higher-residue foods identified in both Harvard fertility studies include strawberries, apples, grapes, leafy greens, and sweet bell peppers, all of which are featured on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list. Low-residue foods encompass avocados, sweet corn, grapefruit, and cabbage. Fruits and vegetables with thick outer peels generally have fewer pesticide residues compared to leafy greens or produce with soft, edible skins. The substantial peel acts as a protective barrier between the pesticides and the edible parts of the fruit or vegetable.

Here are additional important facts regarding pesticides found on nonorganic produce:

Over 98 percent of the tested samples of strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and apples contained traces of at least one pesticide residue.
A single sample of strawberries revealed the presence of twenty different pesticides.
On average, spinach samples had 1.8 times more pesticide residue by weight compared to any other crop.Avocados and sweet corn were found to be the least contaminated, with less than 1 percent of samples showing detectable pesticide residues.
More than 80 percent of the samples of pineapple, papaya, asparagus, onions, and cabbage did not have any detectable pesticide residues.
None of the fruit samples from the Clean Fifteen list tested positive for more than four pesticides.
The occurrence of multiple pesticide residues on vegetables from the Clean Fifteen list is extremely rare. Only 5 percent of Clean Fifteen vegetable samples had two or more pesticides detected.