5 ways to keep pesticides away from your children

When it comes to shielding children from potentially harmful pesticides, awareness can be half the battle. Educate yourself on what you can do to protect our children.
As pesticides continue to be used on crops, in landscaping and in consumer products, many are becoming more concerned about the effect of such chemicals on our children. Because children’s brains and nervous systems are at early and critical stages of development, they are more susceptible to these harmful chemicals. And while much depends on the amount and frequency of exposure, contact with pesticides and their residue has been linked with cancer, organ damage, asthma, learning disabilities and behavioural changes in children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
If you’re a concerned parent seeking to minimise your child’s contact with such pesticides, consider the following suggestions:
Eat organically
When possible, serve your kids certified organic foods, which are produced without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, antibiotics or chemical fertilisers and preservatives. Studies have linked organic foods with heart health, immune system support and highly impactful antioxidants.
Scrub and/or peel your produce
If switching entirely to organic foods is out of reach, focus on removing any pesticide residue from your store-bought fruits and veggies. Forgo commercial produce cleansers and simply rub the foods under your tap using your fingers or a stiff brush. According to federal data compiled by the Environmental Working Group in the US, the produce most likely to retain pesticides (a group known as the “Dirty Dozen”) includes strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, sweet bell peppers and hot peppers; you can further reduce pesticide risk by peeling these before consumption. The “Clean 15” group apt to retain the least residue includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, cabbages, onions, frozen sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplants, honeydew melons, kiwis, cantaloupes, cauliflower, and broccoli.
Monitor pesticide use where your children play
While the Stonyfield survey found only 23 per cent of American parents are concerned about chemical use in sports fields, playgrounds and parks, most of those areas are treated with chemical cocktails of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.
Seek out organic health and beauty products
Conventional beauty products often include petroleum-based ingredients and rely on various chemicals for their production process. Upon application, those chemicals can be absorbed into your child’s bloodstream through his skin, hair or fingernails, causing adverse reactions. Fortunately, several companies now offer organic versions of everyday items such as soap, shampoo, lotion and lip balm.
Check up on your drinking water
Check for the pH level and if you suspect or confirm contamination, consider buying your family bottled water until the problem is resolved.