Chemicals in my food? How do people know for sure? The Dirty Dozen

“Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” Dirty Dozen Celery Peaches Apples Strawberries Blueberries Nectarines Sweet bell peppers Spinach, Kale, Collard greens Cherries Potatoes Grapes lettuce Clean Fifteen Onions Avocadoes Sweet corn Pineapples Mangos Sweet peas Asparagus Kiwi fruit Cabbage Eggplant Cantaloupe Watermelon Grape fruit Sweet potatoes Sweet onions

Who is telling me what foods are dirty and clean? The Environmental Working Group –States that, “choosing to buy certain organic food can significantly lower residue exposure by as much as 90%”. –The outer shell, or protective layer, of food determines how much residue it repels and absorbs. U.S. Department of Agriculture –Non-organic fruits and vegetables are 3 to 4 times more likely to have chemical residues than organic food and… –8 to 10 times more likely to contain multiple pesticide residues.

Not everyone says organic is better…

What do you think? Is organic better? Have you ever worried about chemicals on your food? Have you ever had food poisoning? Why do you think you got that food poisoning? Are you interested to find out more about organic, conventional, and maybe even genetically monitored organisms [food], GMOs?

What are some of the types of chemicals that farmers actually put on their crops? Pesticides Meant to stop and/or kill insects and other pests, like mice or rats Fungicides Prevent and kill fungi and their spores. Herbicides Prevent and kill the growth of unwanted plants, like weeds. Organophosphates Carbamates Organochlorine Pyrethroid Sulfonylurea Biopesticides – Organic Each type also has subtypes.

A few facts… CropAcres (million)$ Profit (billions) Corn Soybeans Hay Wheat Cotton Rice major Also, According to agricultural chemical usage statistics from USDA, herbicides were applied to 98% of corn acreage and 96% of soybean acreage in 2001.

What about animals? Hormones Antibiotics The Federal Drug Administration (FDA), does monitor the feeds that are given to livestock and poultry for future human consumption. But you will research more on animals later…

So how are these chemicals in fruits and vegetables measured? ECD - Electron Capture Detector ELCD - Electrochemical Detector Con - Conductivity Detector FID - Flame Ionization Detector FLD - Fluorescence Detector FPD - Flame Photometric Detector FPD (S or P) - Flame Photometric Detector (Sulfur or Phosphorus Mode) GFAA - Graphite Atomic Absorption SpectrophotometerHALL - Hall Electrolytic Conductivity Detector MS - Mass Spectrometer MS (NCl) - Mass Spectrometer (Negative Chemical Ionization Mode) NPD - Nitrogen Phosphorus Detector NST - Nitrogen Selective Thermionic Detector PCD - Photoconductivity Detector RADI - RadioassayRIS - Radiographic Imaging System SPEC –Spectrophotometer TSD - Thermionic Specific Detector UV - Ultraviolet Absorption Detector XSD - Halogen Specific Detector AA - Atomic Absorption CE - Capillary Electrophoresis Col.switch - Column Switching Technique GC - Gas Chromatograph HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatograph HPTLC - High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography IC - Ion ChromatographImmunoassay - Immunoassay Kit LSC - Liquid Scintillation Counter TLC - Thin Layer Chromatography UV SPEC - Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer Wet - Wet Chemistry

We’ll focus on one common detection method. FDA analyzed an average of 2,243 domestic samples and 4,870 import samples annually in its pesticide residue monitoring program. Multi-residue methods (MRMs) MRMs can determine about half of the approximately 400 pesticides approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). GAS CHROMOTOGRAPHY

Gas Chromatography Video

Here’s a few chemicals that might be found in food around Knox county: ExtrazineHerbicide for corn BicepHerbicide for corn CanopyHerbicide for soybeans LorsbanInsecticide for alfalfa or corn

Review and Reflection Review There are many arguments for and against conventional foods, including GMOs. There are more steps and materials involved in growing non-organic foods. There are many ways to measure chemicals in food; gas chromatography is a common method. Basically, foods are liquified and ions are measured in the machine. Different ions signify different chemicals. Reflection for your Journal What areas of food production has this presentation made you have questions about? –Organic, conventional, GMOs? –Pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides? –Chemical measuring methods? Write one detailed and specific question about this presentation that you would like for the teacher to answer?