What methods can remove pesticide residues

Nowadays, using pesticides in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables has become a very common practice, but it has also led to serious problems such as environmental pollution and ecological damage. The most serious impact on us humans is pesticide residues. After all, no matter what kind of fruiting vegetable it is, it will ultimately be eaten by people. So is there any method that can remove pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables?

1. The harm of pesticide residues

With the continuous advancement of cultivation techniques, the growing period of vegetables has become shorter and shorter. With the intensification of environmental pollution, the pests and diseases of vegetables have also become more and more serious. The vast majority of vegetables need to be sprayed with pesticides multiple times in succession before they can mature and be marketed. Leafy vegetables tend to have heavier pesticide pollution, among which Chinese chives and rapeseed have the largest proportion of contamination.

Many pesticides are toxic. After pesticides are used, crops carry pesticide residues, making the crops contain toxins. If pesticide residues are excessive, they may cause diarrhea and vomiting, and in severe cases may threaten life safety.

2. What to use to remove pesticide residues

There are many different methods for removing pesticide residues. If you are a grower, the best way to remove pesticide residues is to spray less pesticide and try to grow vegetables and fruits in sunlight, letting the sunlight break down the pesticides. In everyday consumption of fruits and vegetables, commonly used methods for removing pesticide residues include soaking and washing in salt water, soaking in alkaline water, sunlight disinfection, and storage.

Salt water soaking method: first wash the fruit with clean water 2-3 times, then put it into lightly salted water and soak for half an hour, then rinse with clean water to remove the remaining pesticide. Examples: grapes, strawberries, peaches, etc.

Alkaline water soaking method: rinse off the surface dirt, soak in alkaline water for 15 minutes, then rinse clean with clean water. Alternatively, adding baking soda to the water also works.

Sunlight disinfection method: exposing vegetables to sunlight will cause some of the pesticide residues in the vegetables to be decomposed and destroyed. When vegetables and fruits are exposed to sunlight for 5 minutes, the residual amounts of organochlorine and organomercury pesticides will be reduced by 60%. Vegetables that are convenient to store should be left at room temperature for about two days.

Storage method: over time in the air, pesticides can slowly decompose into substances harmless to the human body. Therefore, for some vegetables that are easy to store, a certain period of storage can reduce pesticide residues.

In addition, when eating fruits and vegetables, it is best to peel them first before eating. You can also wash them multiple times with clean water, or soak them in hot water. All of these can reduce pesticide residues.