by KC Kelly, Ph.D.

“Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward.” ~Terri Guillemets

According to a study shared on MSNBC, the consumption of pesticides by children have been linked to possible Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The National Academy of Sciences shared that many common foods and snacks that children eat on a daily basis, including frozen blueberries, fresh strawberries and celery are coated with chemicals and this has been found to be a major source of pesticide exposure in children which leads to ADHD.

Maryse F. Bouchard, a researcher at the University of Montreal in Quebeca published her latest research on this topic in the journal Pediatrics. Bouchard’s study has been said to be the largest one to date which looked at the effects of pesticides on child development and behavior, including ADHD. She and her colleagues measured levels of six pesticide metabolites in the urine of 1,139 children ages 8 to 15 and concluded that kids with a 10-fold increase in the kind of metabolites left in the body after malathion (the most common chemical found) exposure, were 55 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than children who were not exposed to the chemicals.

Bouchard suggested to parents, “I would say buy organic as much as possible. I would also recommend washing fruits and vegetables as much as possible.” The Food and Drug Administration suggests that when washing fruits and vegetables, one should run them under cold running tap water and scrub firm-skinned produce with a brush. Be sure to rinse frozen fruits and vegetables, too and do not use soap when washing, as this could leave behind residues of detergent and add more chemicals to the food.

ADHD affects an estimated 4.5 million U.S. children. About 2.5 million of these children are prescribed medication for the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their behaviors are often what get them in trouble in school due to the inability to concentrate, pay attention or listen to directives. When children cannot concentrate and stay on task, they tend to get reprimanded and their grades suffer.

There are some easy ways to avoid exposing your children to pesticides. Besides washing foods, The Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization, advises to buy organic versions of a dozen fruits and vegetables that grow in the ground or are commonly eaten with the skin because these organic versions will most likely not be contaminated.

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