Pesticides in Produce
Graphics by the Environmental Working Group
Going organic is a bit of a no-brainer. Even low amounts of pesticides can, over time, accumulate steadily in the fats and tissue of our bodies, resulting in adverse effects ranging from acute poisoning to the long-term potential for cancer. Children, infants, and fetuses are especially vulnerable because pesticides can affect their developing nervous, endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems, resulting in a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, infertility, asthma, weakened immune systems, nerve and neurological damage, emotional disorders, and more. Zooming out for a sec, pesticide-run-off from fields and crop-dusting planes, dissolving into adjacent rivers, lakes, wetlands, and ground water, can result in the loss and fragmentation of ecosystems. (Pesticides unintentionally kill at least 67 million birds in the U.S. each year, for instance. In 1995, pesticide-contaminated run-off from cotton fields killed at least 240,000 fish in Alabama.)
If you want to know how persistent and pernicious pesticides are, you only have to look at DDT. Banned in 1972, this badass insecticide has been detected in human breast milk in the U.S., along with a chockload of industrial contaminants and known carcinogens such as PCBs, carbon tetrachloride, and benzene.
Even washing and peeling conventionally grown fruits and vegetables like you were Lady MacBeth after a really bad day at the office only reduces the level of pesticides but does not eliminate them. Because a 100 percent organic diet may not be practical or financially feasible, however, our best bet is to avoid conventional produce with the highest pesticide loads in order to minimize our exposure.
To help us along, the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group has developed a pocket guide—based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—you can print out and keep in your wallet. The worst offenders include peaches, apples, and strawberries. Conventional produce you can make do with, on the other hand, include onions, bananas, and broccoli. Download your own guide here to take with you the next time you weave your shopping cart down the supermarket aisles. (And if you’re a numbers nerd, you can find the complete data set here.)
Related articles:
1. The Pesticide-Parkinson’s Equation
2. Grass! On! The! Loose! (Chekhov’s Eco Tip)
3. Lawn & Order
4. Vinegar: Disinfectant of Champions
5. Eco-Me Home: Green Cleaning Solutions
6. Pollution in People
7. Eulogy for Swiffer
8. Maybe Baby: Chemicals & Kids
9. Why Pesticides Suck Reason #785
Chelee said,
October 30, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I’m so torn. Buy only organic or buy local. While I can get some organic produce local, there is a lot I can’t.
Chekhov, this may be a question for you.(:
wendy said,
October 31, 2006 at 1:37 am
As always a wise witch. Besides the obvious health issues- buying organic makes it more economically feasible for all of us over time. Sometimes I can’t quite get myself to do it, and then a great and lucid thinker like you reminds me again of what really matters. We are working on developing organic love products now. Not easy, but it only makes sense. Thanks for keeping the light on. Happy Halloween to all of us fine witches.
azgoddess said,
October 31, 2006 at 6:56 pm
ever read silent spring? and oldy but a goodie!! thanks and happy all hollows eve!
Venessa said,
November 1, 2006 at 9:39 pm
It’s great that there are resources out there for people who need to pick and choose what to buy organically. I try to buy everything organic because even if the food isn’t loaded with residue, it’s still bad for groundwater, wildlife, etc.
Chelee, I always try to buy local above all else. I try not to buy food shipped from all corners of the earth because of all the fossil fuels and other resources it wastes. Plus, it’s good to support local farmers. If I were you, I would get to know my local growers and encourage them to start growing organically. It might not be as hard as it seems. You can also try to find a local CSA where you can subsribe to weekly vegetables, usually they are organic. Try Local Harvest’s website. I am new to reading this blog, so sorry if this is all old news.
Solidly Average » Blog Archive » Link Roundup* said,
November 4, 2006 at 10:06 am
[...] In food news (does food new fit under the feminsit catagory? I certainly think so!) The Worsted Witch discusses Pesticides in Produce and how it negatively affects our health. But Mon$anto doesn’t seem to think so. Bastids.** [...]
Maggie said,
November 4, 2006 at 8:45 pm
I linked to the list and sent it out to my nearest and dearest. We try our best to always buy organic but when times are tight I find myself swayed by the almighty budget. This helps a great deal.
Tamar said,
November 6, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Hey there, I’m new to your blog and so glad I found it. I really appreciate your attention to those, like me and my husband, who would veyr much like to make more environmentally-conscious choices but are often stymied by the price tag involved. So this type of guide is really helpful!
The Worsted Witch » Chemical Pollution Harms Kids’ Brains said,
November 13, 2006 at 1:15 pm
[...] Related articles: 1. Pesticides in Produce 2. The Pesticide-Parkinson’s Equation 3. Grass! On! The! Loose! (Chekhov’s Eco Tip) 4. Lawn & Order 5. Vinegar: Disinfectant of Champions 6. Eco-Me Home: Green Cleaning Solutions 7. Pollution in People 8 . Eulogy for Swiffer 9. Maybe Baby: Chemicals & Kids 10. Why Pesticides Suck Reason #785 [...]
The Worsted Witch » said,
March 16, 2007 at 11:16 am
[...] “Ethical” parents face extra £700 in the U.K. What this story doesn’t add is that it’s possible to live frugally and consciously—buying gently used, for instance, won’t wallop your wallet. You can also make your own green cleaning supplies, and even skincare products. Fresh organic produce can also be affordable if you try growing your own, or by joining a co-op or a community-supported agriculture (CSA) group. (You can also just avoid the conventional produce that have the highest pesticide loads if money is truly tight.) [...]