Work

Dietary pesticides (99.99% all natural).

Year: 1990

Type: article

Abstract: The toxicological significance of exposures to synthetic chemicals is examined in the context of exposures to naturally occurring chemicals. We calculate that 99.99% (by weight) of the pesticides in the American diet are chemicals that plants produce to defend themselves. Only 52 natural pesticides have been tested in high-dose animal cancer tests, and about half (27) are rodent carcinogens; these 27 are shown to be present in many common foods. We conclude that natural and synthetic chemicals are equally likely to be positive in animal cancer tests. We also conclude that at the low doses of most human exposures the comparative hazards of synthetic pesticide residues are insignificant.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.87.19.7777

Authors: B N Ames, M Profet, L S Gold

Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity

Subfield: Toxicology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences