Dangers of treating fruits and vegetables with pesticides
Many pesticides are carcinogenic and most have a detrimental effect on hormonal status (potentially causing infertility and fetal deformity). The infamous pesticide “DDT” has long been banned worldwide, although despite the bans it is still used in some parts of Africa, South America and Asia. Traces of this pesticide are still found in the food we eat. Domestic producers in most countries treat products only to the extent necessary exclusively with permitted means. Mediterranean countries and countries with more sunny days and a favorable climate have less need for protection than other countries.
There are 12 types of fruits and vegetables most contaminated with pesticides (celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, peppers, spinach, cherries, kale, potatoes and grapes). Namely, some quantities of pesticides can be found in every fruit and vegetable that are harmless. In the developed countries of the world, cases where the amount of pesticides exceeds the permissible limits are rare. The control system is very well organized in developed countries.
However, there are newer generations of pesticides (fungicides and insecticides) from the group of organophosphorus insecticides and pyrethroids that are most used today. Insecticides are used during the processing and production of fruits and vegetables, while fungicides are used mainly after harvesting to last longer. Both are dangerous if they cross certain limits. For example, for apples, each pesticide is a limit, as well as for pears, peaches, etc. For example, the European Commission has set these limits based on a risk assessment. The lowest existing limit is 0.01 mg per kilogram (fruit or vegetable). Experts report to the inspector if they discover an impermissible limit. The inspector prohibits the import or entry of the consignment into the country. That shipment is destroyed or returned to the country from which it arrived.
British scientists have published research in the publication “Scientific American”. They say that many harmless pesticides so far actually have a bad effect on male hormones. Tests show that 30 of the 37 pesticides tested block the action of male hormones. 16 (out of 30 pesticides) have so far not been known to have such a negative effect on male hormones – published the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Many newly discovered pesticides are fungicides (used on fruits and vegetables and whose traces remain in food). Scientists from the University of Rochester in New York are researching the impact of environmental chemicals on human reproduction. They say the problem is that most of today’s pesticides are not properly tested and can have long-term consequences for human health.
The safest fruits today are mango, papaya and pineapple, which are not treated with pesticides. Hazelnuts are also not treated with pesticides. However, as a rule, all fruits and vegetables are treated with pesticides, so there is an equal possibility of the presence of pesticide residues. Citruses (lemon and orange) are a group of fruits that require more care (although many stores have stickers on this fruit that say that the peel is inedible). And the rind of this fruit that people grate into cakes and desserts truly contains pesticides.
However, washing fruits and vegetables with water has been shown to largely remove traces of pesticides. Peeling fruits and vegetables (which have a peel) removes almost all pesticide residues. Heat treatment also likely breaks down traces of pesticides in fruits and vegetables because newer groups of pesticides are thermolabile. .

http://www.rochester.edu

https://www.scientificamerican.com/

https://ec.europa.eu/