Even with this caveat, thirty five percent of celery samples contained residues of two or more pesticides, and up to five different pesticides were found on a single sample. Celery ranked third in the neurotoxic potency of the average residue, 14th in the cancer potency of the average residue, and 20th out of 42 for the average residue of endocrine disrupters. Apple pie, apple sauce, the apple of my eye, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Sixty one percent of apple samples tested positive for pesticides, and multiple pesticides on single samples are common. Of the thirty six pesticides detected on apples, eight are classified by the EPA as possible or probable human carcinogens, and 15 are neurotoxic organophosphate insecticides.
Apples also contain a high concentration of endocrine disrupters.
Apples ranked tenth in average residue of endocrine disrupting pesticides, 16th in the neurotoxic potency of the average residue, and 23rd in the cancer potency of the average residue. Sixty-four percent of the FDA samples contained one or more pesticides, and 38 percent had two or three residues. Fourteen different pesticides were detected on apricots. Apricots ranked eighth out of 42 fruits and vegetables in average residue of endocrine disrupting pesticides, 19th in the neurotoxic potency of the average residue, and tenth in the cancer potency of the average residue. More than 13 percent of samples contained residues of three pesticides, and twenty-eight percent of samples tested positive for chlorothalonil, a probable human carcinogen.