The reality of exposure to pesticides through food has just been demonstrated by the publication on April 30, 2008 of a study conducted in 2006 by the General Directorate for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).

The results are worrying as 6% of the fruits and vegetables tested had pesticide levels exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL).

Only 55.6% of the 3500 fruit and vegetable samples taken in 2006 by the DGCCRF did not contain pesticide residues. However, levels below the MRL were detected in 38.4% of these samples. However, for vegetables, 6.3% of the samples were non-compliant, as they exceeded the MRL. "Exceedances mainly concern peppers and chillies, lentils and eggplants," says the DGCCRF, which indicates that "salads, potatoes, endives, carrots and tomatoes have a lower than average rate of MRL exceedance."

Pesticides were significantly more present in fruit: 58.6% of the samples contained residues at levels below the maximum permitted and 5.5% were non-compliant. "The overruns are mainly on strawberries, mandarins, pears. Oranges, avocados and apples have a lower than average rate of exceeding the MRL," notes the DGCCRF.

...but also in our homes.

Another study, presented on May 7, 2008 by the National Institute of Industrial Environment and Risks (Ineris), and which was conducted with the University of Paris V, concludes that "children in the Ile-de-France region are exposed to various pesticides, some of which have been banned for several years, while their parents are not professionally exposed.

The study evaluated the exposure to pesticides of 130 children in the Ile-de-France region, 73 living in a house and 57 in an apartment. Twenty-five insecticides and six herbicides were searched. Ineris took samples of air and soil dust in the heart of homes as well as urine and pesticide residue analyses on the skin of children, who are more exposed than adults because they put their hands to their mouths more often and walk on all fours.

At least one pesticide product was found in 94% of the dwellings: 93% insecticide, 30% plant fungicide and 32% herbicide. Lindane, which has long been used for structural protection or animal pest control, was the most common pesticide found in the air (88% of homes). Neurotoxic, it is currently banned in France.

The most striking fact concerns organophosphate pesticides: 70% of children excreted at least one of the six urinary organophosphate metabolites, although these were detected less frequently in the indoor environment. "This may mean that there is another source of exposure other than the ones we have been looking for. This could be the food route," says Olivier Blanchard, head of the study. Food sampling would therefore be essential to reach the stage of certainty on the dietary route of exposure to pesticides. "