Science News from research organizations Popular fruits and vegetables linked to higher pesticide levels Your fruit and veggie choices may be leaving more than vitamins in your system—they could also be raising pesticide levels. Date: March 4, 2026 Source: Environmental Working Group Summary: A sweeping new study reveals that what’s on your plate may directly shape the pesticides circulating in your body. Researchers found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables known to carry higher pesticide residues—such as strawberries, spinach, and bell peppers—also have significantly higher levels of those chemicals in their urine. While produce remains a cornerstone of a healthy diet, the findings highlight how everyday food choices can drive real-world exposure to substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental harm. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY New research shows that diets high in certain pesticide-prone fruits and vegetables are linked to higher levels of those chemicals in the body. The findings suggest everyday food choices play a bigger role in pesticide exposure than many people realize. Credit: Shutterstock Certain fruits and vegetables may raise the amount of pesticide chemicals found in the human body, according to a new peer reviewed study conducted by scientists at the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Pesticides have been associated with cancer, reproductive problems, hormone interference, and nervous system harm in children. Because traces of these chemicals are frequently detected on produce, many consumers may be exposed through their diet. Researchers say the findings could help guide future studies on how long term dietary exposure to pesticides affects human health. "The findings reinforce that what we eat directly affects the level of pesticides in our bodies," said Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., vice president for science at EWG and lead author of the study. "Eating produce is essential to a healthy diet, but it can also increase exposure to pesticides." Higher Residue Produce Linked to Higher Pesticide Levels People who reported eating larger amounts of fruits and vegetables known to carry higher pesticide residues, including strawberries, spinach and bell peppers, showed significantly higher pesticide levels in their urine than those who mostly consumed lower residue produce. The results point to diet as a key driver of pesticide exposure and lay the groundwork for examining potential long term health effects. "This study builds on previous work showing that certain fruits and vegetables are a major route of pesticide exposure for millions of Americans," said Temkin. "Young children and pregnant people are particularly susceptible to the harms from exposure." How Researchers Measured Pesticide Exposure The study appeared in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health . To conduct the analysis, EWG researchers gathered U.S. Department of Agriculture data on pesticide residues in produce collected between 2013-2018. They combined those findings with dietary survey responses and urine biomonitoring data from 1,837 participants in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, from 2015 to 2016. These datasets represent the most recent years with extensive pesticide tracking. NHANES biomonitoring data are currently available only through 2018. Using this information, scientists developed a "dietary pesticide exposure score" designed to estimate an individual's exposure based on the types of fruits and vegetables consumed and the residue levels detected on those foods. The score accounted for how frequently specific pesticides were found, the amounts detected, and the relative toxicity of each chemical. Researchers then compared those exposure scores with 15 pesticide biomarkers measured in participants' urine. These biomarkers represented three major pesticide categories: organophosphates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. The analysis showed a strong association between the types of produce people ate and the levels of pesticide biomarkers detected in their urine. In short, pesticide exposure varied depending on both dietary choices and residue levels on those foods. Key Findings on Diet and Pesticide Mixtures In addition to confirming the link between higher residue produce and increased pesticide levels in the body, the study identified several important patterns: Diet plays a major role. People who ate more produce with high pesticide residues were more likely to have those chemicals detected in their urine compared to those who chose lower residue options. Monitoring gaps remain. NHANES tracks only a portion of the pesticides found on food and examined in this research. Since people are exposed to many different agricultural chemicals, broader monitoring may be needed. Exposure involves mixtures. Fruits and vegetables