Dirty Dozen: Cancer Risk, Infertility Linked to Pesticides in Fruits & Veggies

• The Environmental Working Group (EWG) identifies the 'Dirty Dozen' – 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues.
• A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and FDA tested 46,000 samples, confirming high pesticide levels in these 12 items.
• Strawberries, spinach, peaches, pears, and beans are among the top offenders, with strawberries having 10+ pesticide types in 30% of samples.
• Pesticide exposure is linked to miscarriages, fetal development issues, birth complications, and structural defects in children.
• Spinach samples showed 76% pesticide presence, including neurotoxic permethrin; 99% of peaches and 90% of beans also contained pesticides.

Why It Matters: High pesticide levels in common produce like strawberries and spinach pose serious health risks, including cancer and infertility.