How safe are the limits that have been set for pesticide residues?
Our federal government sets maximum residue limits (MRLs) with a built-in safety margin of 100. That means the final safe level is a minimum of 100 times below the limit that could cause any health problems. It has been calculated that a 68kg (150 lb) man would have to eat 3,000 heads of lettuce every day, an 18kg (40lb) child would have to eat 534 apples per day, or 13,636 kg (30,000 pounds) of carrots every day over a lifetime to exceed the level of a pesticide’s residue that has been proven to have no effect on laboratory animals.
Related Questions
- I have seen and heard a lot about pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. How do I know for sure that they are safe?
- Does EPA have method detection limits for each pesticide active ingredient that has an EPA-approved analytical method?
- How safe are the limits that have been set for pesticide residues?
