Which Fruits Absorb More Chemicals?

For most people, it's common practice to wash fruit before cutting or eating it. We do this to remove dirt, bacteria and --- we think --- chemicals like pesticides. But recent research done by the Environmental Working Group has shown that some pesticides can't be washed off. Even worse, some are actually absorbed into the fruits we eat. Some fruits tend to convey more chemicals than others, and the group recommends buying those organic when available.

Peaches

• Peaches top the list of fruits known to be contaminated with pesticides.

  In the environmental working group's study, 96 percent of the peaches tested contained significant amounts of pesticide residue. Eighty-six percent of them were treated with two or more chemicals. In fact, 67 different chemical pesticides were identified on the peaches in the study. According to Healthy Child, Healthy World, reports have shown that a single serving of peaches can contain more than the Environmental Protection Agency's safe daily limit of Methyl parathion for a 44-pound child. This chemical is known to have caused massive deaths in both birds and bees.

Apples

• Ninety-three percent of the apples tested by the EWG contained chemical residues.

  Ninety-three percent of the apples in the study contained some combination of 47 different chemicals. These may also be treated with Methyl parathion. Another chemical commonly used on apples is chlorpyrifos, which has been found on both fresh apples and in baby food applesauce. Chlorpyrifos is technically an insecticide, but has caused mass deaths in bird populations as well.

Cherries

• American-grown cherries contain three times as much pesticide as imported cherries.

  Cherries grown in the United States contain three times as much pesticide as cherries grown in other parts of the world. Imported cherries are considered to be largely free of chemical residue. The Environmental Working group found that 90 percent of cherries tested contained pesticides and 72 percent of those contained more than two types of chemical. One such chemical is carbaryl, which is a known carcinogen and suspected hormone disruptor.

Berries

• Strawberries and blueberries tested contained up to 13 different chemicals.

  Strawberries and blueberries also contain significant amounts of pesticide. More than 70 percent of the strawberries and blueberries tested by the EWG contained up to 13 different chemicals. Berries are often treated with fungicides like captan which, though it enhances the berries' red color, is thought to be a human carcinogen and is highly toxic to fish.