What is pesticide exposure?
Exposure to pesticides may come from residual agricultural pesticides in foods; from household or workplace products used to control rodents, insects, and termites; and from disinfectants and fungicides. The most likely ways you are exposed are small quantities of pesticides in the foods you eat and by direct contact with surfaces (such as plants, soils, or structures) where pesticides have been used.
Reducing pesticides on your food
Food grown with pesticides can have small amounts of pesticide left on the food when it gets to the store. You can take these steps to reduce pesticide residue.
- Wash raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
Wash them under running water. Use a scrub brush, and then rinse the food.
- Peel vegetables such as carrots, and peel fruits such as apples.
Peeling will remove pesticides that are on the peel. But it also removes fiber, vitamins, and minerals found in the skins.
- Throw away the outer leaves of head lettuce and cabbage.
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