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[Market-farming] pesticide residues not dangerous to health??
- From: "Nan Johnson" <nan AT olemiss.edu>
- To: "marketfarming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: [Market-farming] pesticide residues not dangerous to health??
- Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 18:11:59 -0800
Several of the scientists I work with
(botanists and soil scientists)keep insisting that pesticide residues on foods
are not a problem as far as human health is concerned (they are NOT addressing
the environmental problems, just whether eating food that has had pesticide or
fungicide exposure is harmful to our health).
They have several points:
1) IF (and they realize this is a big IF, especially with imported produce)
the farmer observes the proper lead time for application before harvest, the
pesticides are DESIGNED to break down in that amount of time, and residues, if
any at all, are not harmful
2) Even if there are residues of the
original chemical, not degraded or broken down, there are already toxic
compounds in every vegetable (e.g. celery - people can have very allergic
reactions to touching celery, even if grown organically,because of naturally
occuring chemical compounds that are toxic to whatever degree to humans) so the
human body can cope with toxins.
3) Fungicides, say on strawberries or
grapes after harvest and washing, are also designed to break down and any
remainders would not be especially harmful
4) Other compounds, whatever,
in our foods and spices as we prepare the food, also act to
neutralize any toxic chemical residues from pesticides and
fungicides.
I spent years training as an organic
farmer, and can see where it is better for the air and soil and water, but I
cannot refute these arguments about the safety to the human body of
consuming conventional produce. These scientists are only alarmed
about produce that has been improperly treated with
pesticides (say in Chile, where workers are not given appropriate instructions,
or whatever).
I have also spent alot of money
buying organic grains, produce, legumes, etc. I am always telling people
that it is healthier to eat organic products, since we don't know the
synergistic effect of all those different pesticide residues on our produce,
e.g. But maybe there aren't very many harmful residues - what is
left is detectable but not necessarily harmful because of how the companies'
design it?????
Any scientists on our list care to
comment, or maybe just point me to scientific articles??????
This is weighing on my heavily (up
till now, I hadn't worked with scientists!!! only
farmers!!) Sorry for rambling.
thanks, nan at dancing goats
farm
n.
mississippi
|
-
[Market-farming] pesticide residues not dangerous to health??,
Nan Johnson, 03/15/2004
- RE: [Market-farming] pesticide residues not dangerous to health??, Karen Sutherland, 03/16/2004
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- RE: [Market-farming] pesticide residues not dangerous to health??, Robert Hadad, 03/16/2004
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