Why can washing fruits fail to remove modern systemic pesticide residues?
They are absorbed into the plant’s tissues as it grows.
The ineffectiveness of simple surface washing against certain pesticide residues stems from the nature of systemic pesticides. A systemic pesticide is applied to or absorbed by the plant, often earlier in its growth cycle, and then translocated throughout the plant's vascular system as it grows. This means the chemical is integrated into the internal tissues, flesh, and pulp of the fruit, vegetable, or grain, not merely sitting on the exterior surface like a dust or contact spray. Consequently, washing, scrubbing, or peeling might remove surface contamination or dirt, but the chemical residues incorporated internally remain physically part of the edible portion, making them impossible to eliminate entirely through external cleaning methods.
