In the recent article featured on Everyday Health, Dr. Luz Claudio, a professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, emphasizes the importance of advocating for safer agricultural practices. Dr. Claudio highlights the need to reduce exposure to harmful pesticides not only for consumers but also for farmworkers, ecosystems, wildlife, and beneficial insects. She points out that while guides like the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce can help individuals make informed choices about reducing pesticide exposure, especially when organic options are not affordable, it's crucial to address the root causes of pesticide use in agriculture.
Dr. Claudio advocates for adopting agricultural practices that minimize the use of synthetic chemicals and other potentially harmful farming methods, thereby mitigating collateral damage to the environment and human health. The article further discusses the EWG's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which lists the "Dirty Dozen" fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residue. This year, nonorganic spinach, blueberries, strawberries, and green beans were among those highlighted for their high pesticide content.
Government lab tests have found pesticides in a wide range of nonorganic produce, with nearly all nonorganic strawberries, spinach, grapes, peaches, and leafy greens like kale showing detectable levels of pesticides. The article notes that 95 percent of the samples of the "Dirty Dozen" contained pesticides, with kale, collards, and mustard greens having the most residue. Fungicides, which are often applied to prevent or remove fungus and keep produce mold-free during transit, were identified as some of the most frequently detected chemicals.
The guide also presents the "Clean Fifteen," a list of nonorganic produce with little to no detected pesticides, encouraging consumers to prioritize these when organic options are not available or affordable. Among these are avocados, Papayas, Mushrooms and others.
Despite the concerns over pesticide residue, the article underscores the importance of consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Dietitians cited in the article advise that the health benefits of eating a variety of produce far outweigh the risks associated with pesticide exposure. They recommend washing produce vigorously with water and using a baking soda or vinegar solution to help remove some pesticide residue. Peeling produce can also decrease chemical exposure, though it may also remove some nutrients.
In summary, while the EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce offers insights for reducing personal pesticide exposure, Dr. Luz Claudio's call to action reminds us of the broader need to advocate for and implement safer agricultural practices for the benefit of all.

Published in Everyday Health March 19, 2024
​Written by Lisa Rapaport

Microplastics, the tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of plastic products, are increasingly becoming a concern due to their omnipresence in our environment. Recent research has highlighted the presence of microplastics in human arteries, raising alarms about their potential health impacts. While the direct link between microplastics and specific health issues remains under investigation, scientists are concerned about trends in disease prevalence that could be associated with these particles. Diseases such as Alzheimer's, colorectal cancer in younger individuals, inflammatory bowel disease, and a global decrease in sperm count are among the conditions that have been observed alongside rising microplastic concentrations.

A significant study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that microplastics and nanoplastics in arteries are associated with a substantially increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. This study, while not conclusively proving that microplastics cause heart problems, underscores the urgency of further research into their health effects.

Microplastics originate from a variety of sources, including food and drink containers, personal care products, textiles, and more. Their small size allows them to be easily ingested or inhaled, leading to accumulation in the body over time. One of the primary health concerns regarding microplastics is their potential role as endocrine disruptors, interfering with the body's hormone system. Dr. Luz Claudio, a professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at Mount Sinai in New York City, emphasizes the complexity of studying microplastics due to their varied chemical composition and varied potential health effects. She highlights the importance of continued research, stating, "No one really knows the answer to this, but this lack of conclusive knowledge does not mean that the effects are not important."

While it may be challenging to completely avoid microplastics, steps can be taken to reduce exposure, such as opting for glass bottles over plastic and choosing natural materials over synthetic ones. However, once microplastics are absorbed into the body, there is currently no known method to remove them.

This growing body of evidence on the presence and potential harms of microplastics in our bodies calls for urgent research to fully understand their health implications and to develop strategies for minimizing exposure and mitigating risks.

When you leave a glass of water out overnight to drink in the morning, it tastes a bit off or "stale".  Well, apparently this is something that worries people.  So reporter Kaitlin Vogel asked whether people should drink water that has been sitting out overnight, and what causes this change in taste.  Indeed, there are some reasons why water that has been left out to the open air overnight can taste funny:

• It is at room temperature, making it less palatable.
  
• The water interacts with gasses in the air which dissolve into the water making it more acidic.
  
• Solids in the water, such as minerals like calcium, may precipitate to the bottom of the glass.
  
• Some small amount of evaporation may happen, making the water a bit more concentrated.
  

Whether any or all of these things occur in the glass of water sitting on your nightstand, there's no reason not to drink it!  As I stated in the article in Parade magazine, "However, none of these potential changes in the water are likely to be harmful. "For that reason, I disagree with the premise that you ‘shouldn't drink it,’" Dr. Claudio adds.
So, make this one less thing to worry about.