Are Pesticides Harmful to Humans?

Learn what’s in your food and what that means for you.

If you have ever grown plants in a garden — or even on your windowsill — you know that pests pose a real problem to the health of greenery. Pesticides offer a solution against bugs that feed off plants and have become a mainstay of modern agriculture. But can these bug-killers pose harm to you and your family when you ingest food grown with help from pesticides? What about air- and waterborne pollutants and their impact on those who live and work nearby? Read on for all you need to know when it comes to pesticides and your health.

What Are Pesticides?

Pesticides are substances used to repel, remove or kill bugs that feed on a plant’s leaves, roots, sap and more. Not all pesticides are synthetic, or lab-created, chemicals. In fact, certain plant-derived oils, some soaps, and organic materials such as diatomaceous earth, clay and sulfur can be used as natural pest repellents. In industrial farming, however, synthetic pesticides are commonly used to keep costs down while reducing crop loss and increasing yields.

There is no doubt that pesticides play an important role in industrial agriculture: A 2021 study states that without them, fruit production would decrease by 78 percent, vegetables by 54 percent and cereals by 32 percent. Pesticides can, however, have potentially harmful effects for people who work on or live near farms, and there may also be negative consequences for people who eat food grown with synthetic pesticides.

What’s the Risk of Eating Food Grown with Pesticides?

Because pesticides are heavily used in industrial farming, residue is found in much of our food supply — not just fruits and vegetables in the produce section, but also in water, juice, cooked food and animal feed.

Most studies related to pesticide exposure and health have centered on occupational hazards. The results are concerning: High, repeated pesticide exposure among agriculture workers can come with an increased risk of birth defects, certain cancers, infertility, Alzheimer’s and death from cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to determine long-term health outcomes in people whose primary exposure to pesticides is through consuming food and drinks, though one study found that 8- to 15-year-olds with higher levels of pesticides in their urine were more likely to be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Who Is at Risk of Pesticide Health Effects?

Farm workers seem to have the highest risk of adverse health effects due to their regular contact with synthetic pesticides. Their families may be affected, too. In a study of 30,000 wives of pesticide applicators, those whose spouses used a class of pesticides called organophosphates were at significantly greater risk of breast, thyroid and ovarian cancers.

People who live near farms are also exposed to pesticides in greater amounts, according to a 2023 study. These chemicals can be inhaled when sprayed over crops, and they can leach into soil and groundwater, which is often used for drinking water.

When children are exposed to pesticides, they can have more significant reactions than adults due to their developing immune and nervous systems. They may have greater exposure, too. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, children ingest almost twice as many pollutants as adults because they breathe in more air. They also spend more time playing in outdoor environments where pesticides may be present, and they have more hand-to-mouth contact than adults.

How Can I Reduce My Exposure to Pesticides?

Pesticides are a fact of life in 21^st century agriculture. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should avoid eating fruits and vegetables, which are full of vital nutrients and minerals. Try these tips to reduce your exposure to pesticides.

• Choose organic produce when possible. If an all-organic diet is not possible, check the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list, which uses testing data from the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to determine which produce has the highest levels of glyphosate residue, a type of pesticide. Try buying organic versions of those foods.

• Thoroughly wash and peel produce prior to eating it.

• Cook your produce — one study found that blanching, boiling and stir-frying vegetables could significantly reduce pesticide residue in some produce.

• Grow produce at home. You can grow enough produce to feed a family of four with an 800-square-foot garden plot, but even a scaled-back version can make a difference — try growing a few of your favorite fruits and vegetables in a pot.

• Consider using organic pesticides in your home garden.

• If you use pesticides, wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses and a respirator. After applying the chemicals, bathe and change into clean clothes.

• Keep at-home pesticide products locked in a shed, closet or other place that children can’t reach.