The Environmental Working Group, a public health nonprofit that also did a great study of the best and worst sunscreens, has published a new study looking at which fruits and vegetables are highest (and lowest) in chemical pesticides.
The results are alarming, particularly for a group of 12 fruits and vegetables that are now nicknamed the “Dirty Dozen” for having the highest pesticide concentrations. Each of these 12, it turns out, contains between 47 and 67 different pesticides per serving, which can’t simply be washed off. Because pesticides go into the water that feeds the produce, they get sucked into the body of the fruit or vegetable, and aren’t removable.
"It’s critical people know what they are consuming," the Environmental Working Group’s Amy Rosenthal said. "The list is based on pesticide tests conducted after the produce was washed with USDA high-power pressure water system. The numbers reflect the closest thing to what consumers are buying at the store."
"You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by up to 80 percent by buying the organic version of the Dirty Dozen," Rosenthal said. –CNN
The Dirty Dozen are:
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce –CNN
For the health of you and your family, please try to buy organic versions of these 12 fruits and vegetables, even if they’re a little more expensive. Research suggests that babies and young children are particularly susceptible to the dangers of pesticides because their brains and nervous systems are developing rapidly.
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