Carlos Solis
A new study by the non-profit Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) found that fruits and vegetables sold in supermarkets may contain alarming levels of pesticides.
Pesticides are chemical or biological substances that farmers use to kill or repel insects, weeds, and fungi to protect their crops. However, pesticide use is linked to a range of health risks for people and the environment, including soil, water, and pollinators.
Chemical analysis identified the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables in stores. Topping the list were grapefruit, grapes, and limes.
The Pesticide Cocktail
When more than one pesticide is present and they act together, the health risks increase. Researchers call this the “cocktail effect.”
The team found multi-component pesticide cocktails in many samples. Lead author Nick Mole said a significant portion of supermarket food is increasingly contaminated, which can lead to health problems, including cancer.
Overall, the researchers detected traces of 123 harmful chemicals in conventional supermarket produce, 42 of which are linked to cancer. Another 21 affect the hormonal (endocrine) system, the Daily Mail reported.
What Did the Analysis Show?
Researchers were shocked to find residues of multiple pesticides in 99 percent of the grapefruit samples they tested. Grapes were not far behind, with 89.8 percent of samples contaminated. The pesticide cocktail was also present in more than 79 percent of the limes examined.
The pesticide contamination levels in the “Dirty Dozen” fruits and vegetables (percentage of samples of each type that contained a pesticide cocktail) are as follows:
- Grapefruit — 99.17%
- Grapes — 89.81%
- Limes — 79.17%
- Bananas — 67.12%
- Sweet Peppers — 48.96%
- Melons — 46.39%
- Beans — 37.5%
- Chili Peppers — 37.5%
- Mushrooms — 31.25%
- Broccoli — 26.45%
- Eggplant — 22.92%
- Dried Beans — 20.83%
In addition to these fruits and vegetables, concerning results were also found for potatoes (19.18%), certain root vegetables (18.75%), ginger (11.11%), and garlic (2.78%).
One item in the fruit and vegetable category did not show critical levels of contaminants.
The most commonly detected hazardous chemicals were two fungicides — imazalil and thiabendazole. Both can disrupt the human endocrine system and may increase cancer risk. They were found in significant quantities in grapefruits and melons.
