Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
health—but neither is it worse for health. The National
Academies of Sciences has determined that natural and
synthetic pesticides are equally safe, and 85Â percent of toxi-
cologists disagree with the statement that organic/natu-
ral products are safer in regard to chemical exposure. In a
comprehensive review of organic foods, researchers found
that consumption of organic produce doesn't increase one's
exposure to pesticides, but that farmers who apply the pesti-
cides face the most risk. Perhaps we need to worry less about
pesticides in our food and more about pesticide exposures in
our farmworkers? That said, the EPA
does
account for farm-
worker exposure to pesticides (and even pesticides used in
the home, including insect repellent).
In regards to organic food, one must make a personal judg-
ment. There is no compelling reason to fear organic foods,
but no overwhelming evidence to express confidence in their
safety either. Most people probably have an intuitive opinion
about which foods offer the best combination of safety and
nutrition. Hopefully this chapter on pesticides has made that
intuition better grounded in facts.
