Strawberries top the list of fruit and vegetables from UK supermarkets that contain potentially dangerous pesticide poisons.
The man-made substances, called PFAS, are known as “forever chemicals” because they may never leave the body once consumed.
They are linked to serious health problems, including cancer, high cholesterol, reduced kidney function, thyroid disease, low fertility, suppressed immune system and low birth weight in babies.
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A government testing program checked fresh produce on sale in Britain, some of which had been imported from abroad. It showed that 95 percent of the strawberries contained PFAS. stock
They are also feared to affect growth, learning and behavioral development in infants and children.
A government testing program checked fresh produce on sale in Britain, some of which had been imported from abroad.
It showed that 95 percent of the strawberries contained PFAS.
Other foods containing the toxins included grapes (61 percent), cherries (56 percent), spinach (42 percent), tomatoes (38 percent) and peaches (38 percent).
They were also found in smaller percentages of other common produce, such as two percent of potatoes and apples tested by the Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food.
PFAS chemicals are used in pesticides and household products such as nonstick frying pans, clothing, cosmetics, food packaging and firefighting foam.
Nick Mole, from Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), said: ‘Given the growing body of evidence linking PFAS to serious diseases such as cancer, it is deeply concerning that UK consumers have no choice but to ingest these chemicals. some of which can remain in their bodies well into the future.
‘With some plastic food packaging also contaminated with PFAS, and PFAS present in UK drinking water and soil, we urgently need to develop a better understanding of the health risks associated with ingesting these ‘forever chemicals’ and do everything we can to exclude them from the food chain.’
PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a family of more than 10,000 chemicals.
Some may never be broken down once they enter the environment or our bodies.
Traces of the chemicals can be found in most water sources.
Small amounts are considered safe, although a separate study from the University of New South Wales yesterday found that 69 percent of groundwater samples worldwide exceeded safe limits.
There are currently 25 PFAS pesticides in use in Britain, six of which are classified as ‘very dangerous’.
Pan UK is urging the government to ban them and support farmers to find safer alternatives.
Last year, the World Health Organization declared PFOA, a type of PFAS, a category one human carcinogen.
There is particular concern about children’s exposure to the toxins as they have been linked to developmental delays, behavioral changes and accelerated puberty.
Dr. Shubhi Sharma, from the charity CHEM Trust, said: ‘PFAS are a group of entirely man-made chemicals that did not exist on the planet a century ago and have now contaminated every corner.
“No one consented to be exposed to these harmful chemicals, we were not given the choice to opt out, and now we have to live with this toxic legacy for decades to come.
“The least we can do is stop adding to this toxic burden by banning the use of PFAS.”