Nowadays, people are afraid to eat fruits and vegetables. Because the amount of additives in food and drinks is causing many dangerous diseases. Harmful pesticides are being used in agriculture. A recent study has shown that the risk of developing some types of cancer can increase by 150 percent among people living in areas where pesticides are widely used. In addition, eating fruits, vegetables and grains with pesticides can also be harmful to health.
Dr. Jayesh Sharma, a cancer specialist from Raipur, said that pesticides affect two groups of people differently. The first group is farmers, who spray pesticides on crops. There is clear evidence that long-term exposure to pesticides among these people leads to cancer such as leukemia and lymphoma. However, the situation is different for those who are exposed to pesticides only through food.
Why do pesticides cause cancer?
The doctor said that there are two types of pesticides. The old organochlorine pesticides, such as DDT, are now banned. These compounds remain in the soil for decades. Plants absorb them through their roots, and then they reach fruits and vegetables. Eating these fruits and vegetables may increase the risk of breast cancer and some reproductive cancers.
How long do pesticides last?
The use of pesticides has decreased now. The shelf life of pesticides used today is 3-10 days. So, by the time they reach our homes through fruits and vegetables, they have already been destroyed. Although no conclusive link between new pesticides and cancer has been proven, long-term exposure in small amounts may pose some risk.
How to survive pesticides?
Method 1: Wash fruits and vegetables under running water and then scrub them with your hands.
Another method: Take half a liter of water and add a teaspoon of salt to it. Soak the vegetables in the water for five minutes, then take them out and wash them thoroughly in clean water. Out-of-season fruits and vegetables contain more pesticides, so try to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Method 3: Soak the vegetables in a solution of water and baking soda for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash them in water. Buy commonly used fruits and vegetables, as they contain fewer pesticides.
