EFFECT OF HOUSEHOLD PREPARATION ON LEVELS OF PESTICIDE-RESIDUES IN PRODUCE

In 1993, the National Academy of Sciences released a report on the eff ects of pesticides in the diets of infants and children, indicating th at current tolerances do not take into account the eating habits and m etabolism of young children, In response to that report, a study was u ndertaken to determine pesticide residues in raw agricultural commodit ies at levels below the tolerances established by the Environmental Pr otection Agency, The objective of the study was to determine whether n ormal household washing, peeling, and cooking procedures had any effec t on pesticide residue levels, Low levels of pesticide residues were d etected in 97 (40%) of the 243 samples analyzed, The number of samples containing detectable residues dropped to 47 (19%) after household pr eparation, Results indicate that residue levels in most commodities ar e substantially reduced after household preparation.