account for 98% of the 2021 PDP residue detections Chart by author based on data from the USDA-PDP website
These five categories cover residues that meet or exceed the EPA safety standard and together they. It is inappropriate and irresponsible to classify a residue below or well below the EPA tolerance as “dirty” or dangerous.īased on the answers to those three questions, one can sort the detections from 2021 into nine categories as shown in two pie charts below. An additional safety factor is added just to be sure that the tolerance defines a level below which we can be extremely confident that there would be no significant health effects even with frequent consumption. To set this threshold the EPA factors in all that is known about the toxicological profile of each chemical and how the commodity fits into normal diets with special consideration for the diets of children.
How does the concentration compare to the crop/chemical-specific “tolerance?” Tolerances are residue thresholds established by the EPA as a conservative safety standard. How much of the chemical was present? Since the time of the ancient Greeks is has been understood that “the dose makes the poison.” Modern chemical testing methods can detect extremely small doses – that does not mean that those represent something dangerous or “dirty.”ģ. Thus these typically end up being classified by the EPA as category III - “slightly toxic,” or category IV – “essentially non-toxic.”Ģ. Many work by inhibiting specific enzymes that occur in pests but are not even present in animals. Very few modern pesticides are highly toxic to animals or humans. What chemical was detected? Individual crop protection chemicals (whether natural or synthetic) differ dramatically in terms of their toxicity profile.
#Insecticides and pesticides affect the environment by download
To do that truly represents “data abuse.” To understand the actual significance of any given detection one has to consider three details which are quite transparently available through the USDA-PDP dataset download site.ġ. For their Dirty Dozen List, the EWG essentially treats all of those detections as equally problematic. For 2021 (the 31st year of the PDP) there were 10,127 samples and a total of 27,541 residue detections. There they are prepared the way they would normally be at the household level (washing, peeling etc), and then analyzed using very sensitive technologies that can accurately measure the amounts of more than 300 different pesticides and pesticide metabolites. The samples are taken to the USDA’s national lab or to one of 7 state laboratories throughout the US. For the 2021 study 21 commodities were included (Fresh and frozen Blueberries, Broccoli, Cantaloupe, Cauliflower, Carrots, Celery, Eggplant, Sweet Bell Peppers, Tangerines, Grape Juice, Green Beans, fresh and frozen Peaches, Plums, Green Beans, Watermelon, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Butter, and Corn for Grain). This fear-based message is completely misleading and irresponsible.Įditor What is the PDP and what does it really tell us?Įach year the USDA and its 10 state-level partner agencies go out and collect more than ten thousand food samples from commercial channels within the US food system. It purports to advise consumers about which specific foods are most important to buy as Organic to avoid these pesticide residues. The main way they get that idea is through something called the “Dirty Dozen List” which is published each year by the Environmental Working Group (EWG EWG) – an organization which gets funding from several large organic food companies. But another reason is consumers hesitate to buy produce items that they’ve been told are risky because of pesticide residues. Nutrition experts agree that many Americans should eat more of these foods, but that can be challenging for those with a busy lifestyle. if you ignore the disinformation in the "Dirty Dozen List" gettyįruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet providing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fiber and other benefits. Fruit and vegetables are a healthy, delicious and safe option for American consumers - particularly.
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