According to research by Pesticide Action Network (PAN), grapes and oranges contain “cocktails of pesticides,” making them the most polluted fruit and vegetable available at UK stores.
To find out if there are traces of chemicals in British food, the government tests samples of groceries every year.
According to official figures, there were 122 different pesticides in the 12 most heavily polluted products. Among them, 61% are classified as highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), which are classified by the UN as substances that are the most hazardous to human health and the environment.
47 pesticides on the list are linked to cancer, there are 15 reproductive or developmental toxins, which affect sexual activity, as well as 17 cholinesterase inhibitors that can damage the respiratory system and cause headaches and confusion.
There are 25% of pesticides that are speculated to be endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormone systems and cause birth deformities and developmental disorders.
In most cases, fruits and vegetables on this list contain two or more types of pesticides, and some may contain as many as 25. There is no doubt that individual pesticide levels are within legal limits, but activists are concerned that multiple chemicals could have greater health impacts.
