Study Reveals How Hard It Is To Avoid Pesticide Exposure (theguardian.com)
(Friday October 24, 2025 @05:22PM (msmash)
from the can't-wash-this-off dept.)
- Reference: 0179864356
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/10/24/191222/study-reveals-how-hard-it-is-to-avoid-pesticide-exposure
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/24/i-was-contaminated-study-reveals-how-hard-it-is-to-avoid-pesticide-exposure
A study involving 641 participants across 10 European countries [1]found pesticides in every silicone wristband worn for one week . Researchers at Radboud University tested for 193 pesticides and detected 173 substances. The average participant was exposed to 20 different pesticides through non-dietary sources. Non-organic farmers had the highest exposure at a median of 36 pesticides. Organic farmers and people living near farms recorded lower numbers.
Consumers living far from agricultural areas had a median of 17 pesticides. The wristbands captured banned substances including breakdown products of DDT, which was prohibited decades ago, and insecticides dieldrin and propoxur. Paul Scheepers, the molecular epidemiologist who co-authored the study, said people cannot avoid exposure to pesticides in their direct environment.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/24/i-was-contaminated-study-reveals-how-hard-it-is-to-avoid-pesticide-exposure
Consumers living far from agricultural areas had a median of 17 pesticides. The wristbands captured banned substances including breakdown products of DDT, which was prohibited decades ago, and insecticides dieldrin and propoxur. Paul Scheepers, the molecular epidemiologist who co-authored the study, said people cannot avoid exposure to pesticides in their direct environment.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/24/i-was-contaminated-study-reveals-how-hard-it-is-to-avoid-pesticide-exposure
taughtology (Score:2)
by tiananmen tank man ( 979067 )
> Non-organic farmers had the highest exposure at a median of 36 pesticides.
was a study really needed to understand this?
Non-organic oats grown in America... (Score:2)
Are sprayed with RoundUp (glyposate) to dry them out simply for farmers to use less fuel to pick them. This is just one example. Basically, organic farming has to be done away from heavily-industrial agricultural areas in a distant, isolated wilderness or it's pissing into the wind.
Organic does not mean pesticide free (Score:2)
It means there is a specific list of pesticides that are allowed. If you're eating organic you are probably paying more to get more pesticides. Which I guess strictly speaking is appropriate since if you're going to pay more you are to get more...
I guess what I'm saying is don't waste your money on organic. You literally cannot avoid pesticides. And the pesticides used on organic are still definitely not good, potentially worse and as mentioned you are going to get a higher dose because they have to use