Cocktail of pesticides in almost all oranges and grapes, UK study finds

[Northerner]

Almost all grapes and oranges contain a “cocktail of pesticides” according to research, which has singled out the most polluted fruit and vegetables in our shopping trolleys.

Each year, the government tests samples of groceries for chemicals to see if traces can be found in Britain’s food.

The official figures, analysed by Pesticide Action Network (PAN), found 122 different pesticides in the 12 most polluted products, which the charity calls the “dirty dozen”. Many of these are hazardous to human health; 61% are classified as highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), a concept used by the UN to identify those substances most harmful to human health or the environment.

The list of pesticides includes 47 with links to cancer, 15 “reproductive or developmental toxins” that can have adverse effects on sexual function and fertility, and 17 cholinesterase inhibitors that can impair the respiratory system and cause confusion, headaches and weakness. A quarter of the pesticides found are suspected endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormone systems, causing an array of health problems including birth defects and developmental disorders.

Every fruit or vegetable on the list contains two or more types of pesticide, with some containing up to 25. Although the levels of individual pesticides are within legal limits, activists fear the combination of multiple chemicals could be particularly damaging to people’s health.

Cocktail of pesticides in almost all oranges and grapes, UK study finds

Traces of 122 different pesticides in 12 most polluted fruit and veg products, many with links to cancer

www.theguardian.com

😱

 

[mikeyB]

Typical Guardian attempt to worry folk. They do say that none of these levels exceed the safe levels ordered by the EU, and the UK levels are still the same. These are just traces. You would have to eat a sackful of grapes or oranges to get measurable amounts in your body.

Drinking water that comes out of our taps probably contains the same trace amounts of pesticides used in fields by reservoirs and rivers, because water purification can’t remove soluble pollutants. That’s minimal as well. At Glastonbury they have signs telling people not to pee in the fields, because MDMA and other trace recreational drugs have appeared in the nearby river in amounts large enough to induce abnormal behaviour in eels. Nitrates in fertiliser get into the water table, too.

I’m sure folk on this forum have other things to worry about eating grapes, anyway.

 

[Northerner]

Typical Guardian attempt to worry folk. They do say that none of these levels exceed the safe levels ordered by the EU, and the UK levels are still the same. These are just traces. You would have to eat a sackful of grapes or oranges to get measurable amounts in your body.

Drinking water that comes out of our taps probably contains the same trace amounts of pesticides used in fields by reservoirs and rivers, because water purification can’t remove soluble pollutants. That’s minimal as well. At Glastonbury they have signs telling people not to pee in the fields, because MDMA and other trace recreational drugs have appeared in the nearby river in amounts large enough to induce abnormal behaviour in eels. Nitrates in fertiliser get into the water table, too.

I’m sure folk on this forum have other things to worry about eating grapes, anyway.

I think the point really is that, whilst the quantities of any individual contaminant may be within acceptable range, no-one really knows what the effect of multiple contaminants combined may be because it's not something they test for

Can't remember the last time I had a grape, mind! 😱 🙂

 

[nonethewiser]

Not something going to worry about, we have known about pesticide in food for decades.