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vinegar to remove pesticides

  • 12-08-2007 5:38pm
    #1
    lola_run
    Closed Accounts Posts: 311 ✭✭


    I've read that vinegar can be used to remove pesticides in fruit and vegetables. Can some biologist please explain to me why?


Comments

  • #2
    John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,135 ✭✭✭✭John


    I don't think it can as vinegar is an acid. Most pesticides are organophosphates which are chemicals which act as neurotoxins, blocking an enzyme required for regulating neuronal transmission called acetylcholinesterase. They act through an acidic phosphate group on the pesticide which binds to the enzyme and stops it working (which then causes the nervous system of the insects feeding on the crop to shut down). As it is an acidic molecule it needs a basic chemical to deactivate it. Therefore it would make more sense to wash fruit and veg in soap. However this would probably be gross (and stronger bases would be worse for your health than trace amounts of pesticide). Another point to bear in mind is that washing fruit and veg in anything only removes pesticides from the surface of the food, most pesticides would be taken up by the plant and be found in most of the of the fruit's flesh. Far better just to shop organic and avoid pesticides completely if you are concerned by it.


  • #3
    lola_run
    Closed Accounts Posts: 311 ✭✭lola_run


    John wrote:
    I don't think it can as vinegar is an acid. Most pesticides are organophosphates which are chemicals which act as neurotoxins, blocking an enzyme required for regulating neuronal transmission called acetylcholinesterase. They act through an acidic phosphate group on the pesticide which binds to the enzyme and stops it working (which then causes the nervous system of the insects feeding on the crop to shut down). As it is an acidic molecule it needs a basic chemical to deactivate it. Therefore it would make more sense to wash fruit and veg in soap. However this would probably be gross (and stronger bases would be worse for your health than trace amounts of pesticide). Another point to bear in mind is that washing fruit and veg in anything only removes pesticides from the surface of the food, most pesticides would be taken up by the plant and be found in most of the of the fruit's flesh. Far better just to shop organic and avoid pesticides completely if you are concerned by it.

    Thank you kindly for such an informative reply. I plan on having my own vegetable patch soon.


  • #4
    bluerose
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭bluerose


    boiling water could be better...


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