Pesticides in Fruits and Vegetables Linked to ADHD in Children

Montreal, PQOne would think it would be good to feed your kids lots of fruits and vegetables—a natural food source, high in fiber and nutrients. However, a recent study found that trace amounts of pesticides on commercially grown fruits and vegetables may associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The pesticides at issue are organophosphates, which, according to the lead author of the nationwide study, are designed to have a toxic affect on the nervous system. "That's how they kill pests," says Maryse Bouchard, Ph.D., a researcher with the department of environmental and occupational health at the University of Montreal.

It should be noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has eliminated the use of such pesticides for residential use, including lawn care and termite control. However, organophosphates are still acceptable for commercial applications.

According to a 5/17/10 report from CNN Health, researchers measured the levels of pesticide byproduct in the urine samples of 1,139 children across the US and found that children with above average levels of one common byproduct were about twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

One group of pesticide byproducts was associated with a substantially increased risk of ADHD. Children whose levels were 10 times higher than average were 55 percent more likely to have ADHD.

Another group of byproducts did not appear to be linked to the disorder.

Children with higher than average levels of the most commonly detected byproduct, found in roughly six in 10 of the children tested, were nearly twice as likely to have ADHD.

"It's not a small effect," says Bouchard. "This is 100 percent more risk."

The potential for pesticide byproducts to adversely affect on children is not news—previous studies have already reached those conclusions. However, those studies have focused largely on populations at higher risk for exposure, such as farm workers. This study was the first to target and encompass the population at large.

Published in the current issue of Pediatrics, the study noted a 2008 report by the US Department of Agriculture that involved a representative testing sample of produce. The testing revealed that 28 percent of frozen blueberries, 20 percent of celery and 25 percent of strawberries contained traces of one type of organophosphate. Other types of organophosphates were found in 27 percent of green beans, 17 percent of peaches and 8 percent of broccoli.

Parents are urged not to shield their kids from eating fruits and vegetables, but instead to opt where possible for organically grown fruits and vegetables that contain fewer pesticides. Produce found at farmers' markets has generally been shown to contain fewer pesticides than fruits and vegetables found in commercial grocery isles, according to the report.