February 10, 2003 – Children 2-4 years old fed organic foods have six times lower levels of pesticide residues than those who eat factory farming products. This is what a recent small study reveals1 who studied the bioaccumulation of organophosphate pesticides, a class of insecticides that affect the nervous system.
For the purposes of the study, two groups of children were formed: 18 children with an organic diet and 21 children with a usual diet. The researchers limited their investigation to children between 2 and 4 years old, because according to their premises, this is the age group most at risk: these children eat large amounts of food in proportion to their body mass and they ingest foods with the highest concentration of pesticide residues (such as vegetables and fruits).
The researchers then asked parents to write down all the foods the children eat for three days. A day later, the researchers took a urine sample. Five types of pesticides, frequently sprayed on crops, were sought (malathion, azinphos-methyl, parathion, oxydemeton-methyl, phosmet) and were found in high concentrations in children who had not eaten organic.
Following the analysis of the results, the researchers concluded that a diet including organic fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce the level of exposure to pesticides, even below the limit values set by the Protection Agency. of the American Environment (EPA).
Low-income parents unable to provide “full-time” organic nutrition to their children, can still limit or prevent their consumption of fruits and vegetables containing the most pesticide residues such as cantaloupe, green peas (canned and frozen), pears, strawberries, tomatoes from Mexico, winter squash and apples.
Stéphane Gagné – PasseportSanté.net
According to PANNA email news service, January 31, 2003.
1. Cynthia L. Curl, Richard A. Fenske, Kai Elgethun. Organophosphorus pesticide exposure of urban and suburban pre-school children with organic and conventional diets. Environ Health Perspect October 13 2002. http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2003/5754/abstract.pdf. [Consulté le 6 février 2003].