by Scott Morris

Buy Organic

Eliminating dust is especially important for children, but dietary changes may be the most important steps adults can take to reduce exposure to toxins. Many chemicals, such as dioxins, accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals and fish, and these chemicals concentrate as they move up the food chain. Eating low on the food chain is one way to reduce your intake of persistent chemicals. Another way is to buy organic foods, both for your own well-being and to reduce exposure of the farm workers who are subject to the most risk through their daily contact with pesticides.

Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet has identified the top-priority foods to buy organic, particularly because of concerns over pesticide residues found in some of these products.

• Baby food
• Strawberries
• Rice
• Oats
• Bell peppers
• Bananas
• Green Beans
• Peaches
• Apples

(For more information on the National Standards for Organic Agricultural Production and Handling, adopted late last year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, go to http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ )

©1998 Positive Futures Network P.O. Box 10818, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-0818, USA - phone 206/842-0216 - fax 206/842-5208. Excerpted from longer article "Safer Homes and Gardens."

© 2007 Green Home, Inc.