New research by Friends of the Earth (FOE), published on 1
August(1), shows that up to 220 young children a day could have been exposed to potentially dangerous levels of pesticides just from eating a single
apple or pear. The research also showed that internationally agreed safety levels (Maximum Residue Levels [MRLs]) on pesticides can be breached even when the legal limits (Acceptable Daily Intake [ADI]) on pesticides were met. Imported produce was more likely to contain high pesticide levels than homegrown fruit.
The research, conducted with Professor Andrew Watterson and Dr Vyvyan Howard, used mathematical modelling to measure exposure to pesticides for children aged between 18 months and four years old. Using the government’s own data on pesticide residues found on apples and pears, and information on the quantities of apples and pears eaten by young children from the National Dietary Survey, the study found that between 10 and 220 young children could be exposed to pesticide residues at levels which could pose immediate and long term threats to health.
The government regularly monitors fruit and vegetables for pesticide residues. However, instead of testing individual items of produce, the government tests blended batches, with official figures only reporting the average for the batch (eg 10 apples). Research in the 1990s showed that some fruit and vegetables contain much higher levels of pesticides than others, with potentially no residues in one piece of fruit and a very high level of residues in another.
FOE’s research used modelling to examine the likelihood of children eating a piece of fruit containing high pesticide residues. The results showed that, based on the government’s residue data for 2000 to 2002, young children can be exposed to residues at levels above internationally agreed safety limits. The model used real rates of fruit consumption, taken from the government’s national diet survey, and so the results are relevant for children who eat normal quantities of fruit – the most it was assumed that any child would eat was a single apple or pear. Although the government knows that high levels occur in individual fruit, it continues to tell the public that there are no health concerns as long as legal limits are met.
The pesticides studied are carbendazim (banned in Belgium), dithiocarbamates and phosmet which all have acute effects (a symptom would occur in the short term). Phosmet is not licensed for UK use so only occurs on imported fruit. Carbendazim and dithiocarbamates are suspected hormone disrupters. Phosmet is an organophosphate insecticide, which has the potential to damage the nervous system and is a potential carcinogen. While there may be no obvious immediate effects from consuming these chemicals at high levels, there may be long term implications. Children are particularly susceptible because they are still growing and developing.
Because MRLs were breached even though ADIs were not exceeded, apple growers would not have been alerted to any problem with levels of pesticides in their fruit. FOE wants the government to take urgent action to lower legal limits to ensure that safety limits are not breached. The research found that UK apples and pears were less likely to exceed safety levels than imported produce, but FOE is calling on the government and supermarkets to do more to help growers reduce the use of pesticides further.
1 The research was published on 1 August 2004 in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health – www.ijoeh.com
Visit http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/pesticidesandtoddlers.pdf
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 65, September 2004, page 17]