Problem
Vulnerability of children to pesticide residues in food
Background:
Analyses of 4,500 samples of fruits and vegetables taken from supermarket warehouses in the USA between 1990 and 1992 found 2 or more pesticides on 62 percent of orange samples, 44 percent of apple samples, and from one-quarter to one-third of cherry, peach, strawberry, celery, pear and grape samples.
Children may be more sensitive than adults to pesticide exposures because scientific studies have shown that children are more sensitive than adults to many chemical compounds, such as aspirin; hexachlorobenzene; hexachlorophene; lead; mercury; nitrate; phenobarbital; tetracycline; and tobacco smoke. Children are known to be more sensitive than adults to radiation. It is only reasonable to assume that children will be more sensitive than adults to some pesticides.
Broader Problems:
Pesticide poisoning Pesticide residues in foodEnvironmental health hazards to children Subject(s):
Amenities → Food??Industry → Chemical products??
Societal Problems → Vulnerability??
Societal Problems → Waste??
Society → Infants??
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
06.05.2019 – 18:52 CEST