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inedible fruit and vegetables
is there anything that can pollute the water used to irrigate fruit and vegetables that would render them inedible or even poisonous to us without actually harming the plant. I wonder this because in developing countries we are told to peel fruit but what about the juices inside?
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I presume the warning would relate to the insecticides and anti-fungal sprays that are used without having to heed to the regulatory health ordinances present in 'developed' world. For instance, spray that makes the fruit & veg shine and so more appealing to the purchaser may for the sake of economy, also contain insecticides which does not degrade because it is mixed with the wax. Cheaper but more toxic sprays may also be present.
Here on AB, you'll find a number of scientists and at least one medical doctor capable of answering your question with varying degrees of knowledge. As a biochemistry professor qualified in chemistry, biology and biochemistry and head of a research facility that has carried out research on this very topic, I'll stick my neck out and speak on behalf of them all.
It's not a question of "anything" as you put it. The reality is that there are millions of substances out there that do exactly this - I've written down a list of 436 groups of substances that will fit the bill since I first saw your question 15 minutes ago and could probably list more if it wasn't for the claret I had with my lunch.
Each of these groups contain from about three to hundreds and sometimes, thousands of individual chemicals/poisons. So all in all, you're talking about millions of individual toxic substances that are relatively harmless to vascular plants but highly toxic to humans and other mammals.
(continued)
It's not a question of "anything" as you put it. The reality is that there are millions of substances out there that do exactly this - I've written down a list of 436 groups of substances that will fit the bill since I first saw your question 15 minutes ago and could probably list more if it wasn't for the claret I had with my lunch.
Each of these groups contain from about three to hundreds and sometimes, thousands of individual chemicals/poisons. So all in all, you're talking about millions of individual toxic substances that are relatively harmless to vascular plants but highly toxic to humans and other mammals.
(continued)
Plant physiology is considerably different to that of humans and substances that are toxic to humans often have negligible effects in vascular plants.
Toxic substances can indeed be present in the extracellular and intracellular fluids in plants, and yes, it has led to fatalities.Whilst the toxic substances are usually taken in via the roots, there have been well-documentated cases of absorbtion via leaves or plant stems. The predominant reason we are told to wash fruit is because it's likely to contain tracesof pesticides used during cultivation. Washing is obviously ineffective if the juice is contaminated.
Now it would be foolhardy of me, or anyone else, to disclose even one of these substances for the reason implied by ChuckFickens. Whilst I have no intention of accusing you of wanting the answer for dubious purposes, this is an open forum and it might stir some malicious thought in someone less innocent who reads a detailed answer.
ChuckFickens is not a dimwit - it's a valid point whether you like it or not. The dimwit is the person who spells out the names of these substances and you should be able to see that.
Toxic substances can indeed be present in the extracellular and intracellular fluids in plants, and yes, it has led to fatalities.Whilst the toxic substances are usually taken in via the roots, there have been well-documentated cases of absorbtion via leaves or plant stems. The predominant reason we are told to wash fruit is because it's likely to contain tracesof pesticides used during cultivation. Washing is obviously ineffective if the juice is contaminated.
Now it would be foolhardy of me, or anyone else, to disclose even one of these substances for the reason implied by ChuckFickens. Whilst I have no intention of accusing you of wanting the answer for dubious purposes, this is an open forum and it might stir some malicious thought in someone less innocent who reads a detailed answer.
ChuckFickens is not a dimwit - it's a valid point whether you like it or not. The dimwit is the person who spells out the names of these substances and you should be able to see that.
Thanks for taking the time to enter such a detailed and interesting response. I eat a lot of fruit to stay healthy and just wondered if the very fruit itself could possibly be contaminated and make me unwell - nothing more sinister than that. Still, nothing wrong with a little healthy paranoia I suppose...
Nothing contaminates the fruit growing on the plant but once harvested the contamination is borne on the skin via washing the fruit in soiled water. That's why you should wash again in clean water or peel off skin.
Incidentally, its unadviseable to eat prepared salads that may have suffered likewise, to avoid stomach upsets.
Incidentally, its unadviseable to eat prepared salads that may have suffered likewise, to avoid stomach upsets.
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