The Issues: Pesticides

 

Pesticides are chemicals used to eliminate or control a variety of agricultural pests that can damage crops and livestock and reduce farm productivity. The most commonly applied pesticides are insecticides (to kill insects), herbicides (to kill weeds), rodenticides (to kill rodents), and fungicides (to control fungi, mold, and mildew). Of these pesticide classes, herbicides (weed killers) are the most widely used. Over 1 billion tons of pesticides are used in the US every year.i

sustainable TablePesticide Use on Factory Livestock Farms
There are numerous chemical pesticides used to control insects and other pests in livestock facilities. Industrial farms apply these chemicals directly to the skin, fur and feathers of livestock such as cattle, pigs and poultry in order to kill off flies, mites, spiders, cockroaches, ticks and other pests.ii

Even though these problems can be reduced without the use of toxic chemicals, industrial agriculture relies on pesticides to counteract the filthy conditions inside livestock facilities. Improved cleanliness inside farm facilities, fly traps and the use of higher quality feed could all help to minimize these problemsiii without posing any risks to human, animal or environmental health.

Pesticides and Animal Feed
Approximately 37% of the world’s grain and 66% of U.S. grain is used for livestock feed.iv This grain is grown by intensive farming operations that use massive quantities of pesticides  while producing problems such as pesticide resistance in insects and weeds, and pollution of nearby water supplies with toxic chemicals.v Furthermore, when grain is grown with pesticides and then fed to livestock, pesticide residues accumulate in the animals’ fatty tissue. When humans eat the meat and dairy products derived from these animals, we’re exposed to the toxic ingredients in the pesticides and are at risk of developing severe health problems as a result.vi However, the most direct route to pesticide exposure is through ingesting produce with pesticide residues.

Pesticides and Public Health
Pesticides are a public health concern and have been linked to a range of diseases and disorders. Many chemical pesticides are known to cause poisoning, infertility and birth defects, they can damage the nervous system and potentially cause cancer.vii viii Although it is widely understood that exposure to pesticides is dangerous to humans, research has shown that many people in the US carry high levels of pesticides in their bodies.ix According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American child between the ages of six and eleven carries four times the acceptable level of pesticides called organophosphates (which are known to cause nerve damage).x Scientists studying the effects of chemical pesticides have found that exposure to small doses of these toxins during the fetal stage and childhood can cause long-term damage to humans. xi

Regulation of Pesticides
Pesticides are tested and approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which establishes “tolerances,” or maximum residue levels, that limit the amount of a given pesticide that can safely remain in or on a food.”xiii The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is then responsible for monitoring pesticide levels on fruits and vegetables, while the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with the task of surveying pesticide residues in meat, eggs and dairy products.

Many believe that the EPA’s methods for testing pesticides are insufficient because they only examine the effects of exposure to pesticides at high doses. Without conducting research concerning long-term exposure to low doses of pesticides, these studies neglect to base safety levels on real-life situations. Moreover, the tests examine the effects of a single chemical, whereas people are typically contaminated with small amounts of hundreds of pesticides at any one time. xiv

The FDA is also criticized for its inadequate monitoring of pesticide levels on fruits and vegetables. The Environmental Working Group reports that the FDA fails to test the majority of produce consumed in the US, and as a result Americans regularly consume food bearing residues of illegal pesticides that are not approved for use in the US.xv

Which foods have the highest levels of pesticide residues?xii The Environmental Working Group compiled a list of the fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residues. The top 12 – or “Dirty Dozen” are:

  • Apples
  • Peaches
  • sweet bell peppers
  • celery
  • nectarines
  • strawberries
  • cherries
  • pears
  • imported grapes
  • spinach
  • lettuce
  • potatoes

Download a copy of the EWG’s Pesticides in Produce Wallet Guide – it offers a complete ranking of pesticide-contaminated produce that you can carry with you when you shop.

Alternatives to Pesticides: Integrated Pest Management
Many sustainable farms rely upon Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as an alternative to the heavy use of pesticides. IPM is a growing movement amongst farms of all sizes that incorporates a variety of techniques to eliminate pests while minimizing damage to the environment. For instance, an IPM farm will grow pest-resistant crop varieties, use predatory insects to kill plant-eating pests, employ mechanical pest traps, and eliminate nesting areas by plowing under harvested crops. Chemical and natural pesticides are used only as a last resort.

Another technique used by sustainable farmers is crop rotation, which involves planting crops in different places each season in order to replenish nutrients removed from the soil by a particular plant. This practice breaks pest cycles and at the same time allows the soil to naturally replenish itself without the use of chemical fertilizers.

What You Can Do
When you prepare conventional food, there are some measures you can take to reduce your intake of pesticides. Be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Peeling your food is also an option that can help reduce the consumption of pesticides. For meat and dairy products, it is best to consume those foods that contain less fat, as that is where pesticides typically accumulate in animals. Purchase skim milk or low-fat dairy products and remove the fat from cuts of meat before you cook them.

But the best way to avoid consuming synthetic pesticides along with your food is to eat organic produce, meat and dairy products.  Organic food is grown and processed without being treated or supplemented with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, although it can be treated with natural pesticides. Look for the USDA certified organic label on your foods, and visit the Eat Well Guide to locate a store near you that carries organic and/or sustainably-raised meat, dairy and eggs.

What’s even better than simply looking for organic is to frequent a local farmers’ market or farm. This way, you can ask the farmer directly about his or her pest control methods. Some sustainable farms aren’t certified organic, but don’t use any pesticides at all. The only way to find out is to ask!

Did You Know?

  • A 2004 analysis of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data revealed that 100% of blood and urine tests from subjects they monitored showed pesticide residues. Two insecticides – chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion – were found at levels up to 4.6 times greater than what the US government deems acceptable.xvi
  • In a joint study conducted by scientists from the CDC, the University of Washington and Emory University, researchers found that pesticide levels in test subjects dropped to undetectable levels upon switching to an organic diet. When the subjects switched back to a non-organic diet, pesticide residues almost immediately became detectable.xvii
  • According to Cornell entomologist David Pimentel, “It has been estimated that only 0.1% of applied pesticides reach the target pests, leaving the bulk of the pesticides (99.9%) to impact the environment.” xviii

For More Information

  • Beyond Pesticides
    This organization works to promote alternative pest management methods and provides information about both the risks associated with pesticides and sustainable alternatives.
  • EPA Pesticides Website
    Contains a wealth of information about pesticides, the environmental and health effects of pesticides, and the process through which pesticides are approved for use in the U.S.
  • Pesticide Action Network International
    A network of over 600 participating organizations, institutions and individuals in over 60 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives. Includes the PAN Pesticides Database which provides comprehensive information about 351,731 current and historic pesticide products registered in the U.S.
  • Pesticide Data Program
    Manages the collection, analysis, data entry, and reporting of pesticide residues on agricultural commodities, with an emphasis on those commodities highly consumed by infants and children.  (US Department of Agriculture)

Reports and Articles

Sources