It’s getting harder and harder to ignore the toxins and pesticides that are used to grow your food every day. Unfortunately, pesticides and herbicides of all varieties are even used on the porous food we eat. This includes strawberries—yes, those tasty little fruits that you eat like candy may be coated in dangerous chemicals.
The Gas That Farmers Spray on Your Strawberries
California is one of the largest producers of strawberries in the United States. To increase yields and improve the size of individual strawberries, farmers may turn to a variety of pesticides and herbicides.
Chloropicrin is one of the most dangerous and hazardous chemicals being used on agriculture today. However, it’s not new to the world. It was used in World War I as an agent of chemical warfare. When soldiers inhaled chloropicrin, it would induce vomiting.
As a result, soldiers would remove their gas masks and be exposed to whatever chemicals the enemy had lying in wait. Chloropicrin is one of the most potent chemicals used during warfare. It is no longer approved for use during warfare, which should indicate how unsafe this chemical truly is.
The government does, however, still use chloropicrin in other ways. Police departments may use it as a riot control agent, as it acts like a tear gas and causes breathing difficulties.
Side Effects of Chloropicrin
Why is this chemical being sprayed on California strawberries if it’s so toxic? Well, in addition to being toxic to humans, chloropicrin is deadly to insects. Insects that eat chloropicrin may become violently ill and die, keeping them from eating strawberries and destroying crops.
Vomiting isn’t the only side effect of chloropicrin. Humans exposed to this chemical may develop bronchitis, pulmonary edema, and eye irritation. The Center for Disease Control notes that this chemical can contaminate water, contaminate food, and contaminate agricultural products.
A study produced by Science Societies notes that chloropicrin, in the absence of a high-barrier film, degrades rapidly in the soil. Because of this, it may affect plants that have not even been sprayed. What does this mean for you? Even if you don’t eat strawberries, chloropicrin could be sneaking into your diet through other types of produce.
How to Avoid Chloropicrin
If this chemical can’t be sprayed without protective suits and if law enforcement agencies must protect their skin while spraying it, you definitely don’t want to be ingesting it every time you get your fruits and veggies.
The only solution is to eat local, organic food. Organic produce is free of the hazardous chemicals that are used on conventional produce. Even better, shop with farmers that you know and trust. If you shop at a farmer’s market, you can get to know how local farmers control pests and only shop with those who use safe methods.
It’s amazing what they’ll spray on produce and what government agencies allow. Being aware of what you’re eating empowers you to protect your family from herbicides and pesticides.
Sources:
http://buynongmoseeds.com/warning-wwi-enemy-killing-gas-now-being-used-on-strawberries-2/
https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/jeq/abstracts/29/5/JEQ0290051391
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750034.html
Nicole Penguin
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I don’t like Strawberries bcoz I don’t get any test from it. However thanks for sharing this kind of Warning post.
Nicole Penguin, the chemical is NOT sprayed ONTO the fruit as you state, it is a fumigant applied to the soil 7 to 10 days before starts are planted. Not to dispute the dangerous aspects of this nasty chemical nor the importance of public awareness, but your article MISREPRESENTS the chemical’s application (tarps are REQUIRED and used to contain the fumigant to ensure it degrades in the soil and doesn’t escape), it’s uses (Law Enforcement doesn’t use chloropicrin for anything - the term “may” does not absolve you, you are still misleading your readers), not to mention the danger posed to consumers. There ARE important awareness issues which you would have done well to focus on; i.e. the environmental impact of the chemical as well as the health risks to inhabitants surrounding the fields when chloropicrin is applied (going down this road you would of course need to point out buffer zones and other regulations in place to mitigate the health risks). Chloropicrin specifically is not a health concern for those who eat the fruit, to imply otherwise, as your article does, is inaccurate and rather blatant fear mongering.