評論
打印
All pesticides must be proven to meet these stringent
生產商必須證明，所有的殺蟲劑產品
requirements by pesticide manufacturers before the
都符合這些嚴格的要求，只有這樣
EPA will grant their use. And annual recertification
環保局才能允許其進入市場，每年的年檢
is required. In testing, the EPA standard call for a
也是必須的，環保局標準在一定程度上
reasonable certainty of no harm. This means that for
能保證食物中不含有害物質，這就意味著
pesticides known to cause cancer, the MRL must not
對于那些可能致癌的殺蟲劑 MRL的含量
exceed a risk to pesticide exposure below one cancer
必須控制在一定范圍內，即接觸者患
per one million persons exposed. For non-cancer
癌癥的風險小于1/1000000
causing pesticides, acute or chronic use must be below
對于不致癌的殺蟲劑，消費者食用的
the reference dose 99.9% of the time.
產品中的殺蟲劑含量必須在99.9%
With this in mind, let's see what recent studies
的情況下符合標準，下面我們來看
of produce show in regard to pesticides.
最新的研究在殺蟲劑方面有哪些成果
This chart shows data accumulated between
這份數據顯示的是從1994年至
1994 and 1999 of conventional pesticide residues
1999年間在新鮮蔬菜和水果中
found in fresh fruits and vegetables. There are
傳統殺蟲劑的殘余量，這有三家機構的
three organizations represented which are
數據，這三家機構都是信譽度高的
considered credible and independent sources.
獨立的研究機構
These are the USDA, the California Department of
它們是美國農業部，加利福尼亞農藥
Pesticide Regulation, and the Consumer's Union,
管理辦公室，以及消費者聯盟
all of which have different testing standards.
它們都有不同的檢測標準
The USDA program is by far the most intensive of
其中農業部的調研是
the three studies. Between 1994 and 1999, pesticide
最深入的 1994-1999年間
residues were found in 79%, 31%, and 63% of
含有殺蟲劑殘余的常規食品比率
conventional foods respectively. Conversely, 26%,
分別為79% 31%和63%
7%, and 23% of organic foods were found to contain
而在有機食物中，這一比率為26%
conventional pesticides. The reasons for this are
7%和23%這背后的原因在很大程度上
largely from agricultural leaching from conventional
是因為農業已不僅限于
food farmers with a small amount, less than 1%,
傳統的農業生產，而這其中有少量的人
stemming from faulty organic claims. It's important
假借有機食品的名號，我們要注意
to remember that pesticide residues are regulated by
殺蟲劑殘余是由環保局管理的
the EPA for safety. In a recent study, over 8,000
在最近的一項研究中，在8000個
samples were tested. 9 of the domestic samples and
送檢樣本中，有9個本土樣本和
26 of the international samples residue concentrations
26個進口樣本中的殺蟲劑殘留量
in excess of tolerance levels set by the USDA.
高于農業部的規定
The findings of pesticide residues at lower
有機食品含有
frequencies and at lower levels in organic foods
殺蟲劑殘余的比例更低
suggests that organic foods may be less risky than
這就意味著在在殺蟲劑上
conventional foods with respect to pesticides.
有機食物的風險與常規食物相比更低
However, it is important to consider the risks, if any
但是在確定有機食物的健康功效之前
currently posed by pesticide residues in foods
我們必須首先要考慮
before determining the incremental health benefits
食品中的殺蟲劑殘余量
from consuming organic produce. Now, let's look at
下面我們來看
nitrate levels and purported
硝酸鹽的含量水平以及
risks associated with their use.
與硝酸鹽的運用相關的風險
Nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring
硝酸鹽一般存在于
In organic ions that are part of the nitrogen cycle.
有機離子中，它屬于氮族
Microbial action in soil or water decomposes waste
土壤和水中微生物的活動能夠將含有
containing organic nitrogen into ammonia which is
有機氮的廢物分解成氨，之后氧化為
then oxidized to nitrite and nitrate. Because nitrite
硝酸鹽和亞硝酸鹽，由于亞硝酸鹽很容易
is easily oxidized to nitrate, nitrate is the compound
被氧化成硝酸鹽，亞硝酸鹽大量存在于
predominantly found in ground water and surface waters
地下和地表水中
Contamination with nitrogen containing fertilizers,
含有氮的化肥，比如硝酸鉀
for example, potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate,
和硝酸銨，以及動物或人類的排泄物
or animal or human organic waste, can raise the
都會提高水中亞硝酸鹽的含量
concentration of nitrate in water.
從而造成環境污染
