Can washing fruits with hot water remove pesticides

Washing fruits with hot water can partially remove pesticide residues, but the effect is limited. The pesticide residues on the surface of fruits mainly include organophosphates, pyrethroids, etc. Hot water cleaning can dissolve some fat soluble pesticides, but has little effect on penetrating pesticides or systemic pesticides. The key factors for removing pesticide residues include water temperature, soaking time, fruit skin structure, and pesticide type.

The removal effect of fat soluble pesticides is better when the water temperature is between 50-60 degrees Celsius, such as common cypermethrin and dichlorvos. Hot water can accelerate the movement of pesticide molecules and break their binding force with the skin surface. Smooth skinned fruits such as apples and pears can remove about 30% -50% of surface residue by rinsing with hot water. For fruits with fragile skin such as strawberries and grapes, high temperatures may cause nutrient loss or texture softening. It is recommended to rinse with running water instead. Penetrating pesticides such as Lego and Budweiser can enter the flesh through the skin, and hot water cleaning can only remove about 10% -20% of the residue on the surface. This type of pesticide needs to be treated by peeling or professional cleaning agents. Some inhalable pesticides such as carbendazim are transmitted within the plant body, and hot water cannot remove their internal residues. Experiments have shown that hot water above 80 degrees Celsius may damage the vitamin C and polyphenolic substances in fruits, and instead be detrimental to nutrient retention.

It is recommended to rinse fruits with running water and gently brush the surface with a soft bristled brush for daily cleaning. Stubborn residues can be soaked in baking soda water for 10 minutes. Organophosphorus pesticides are more prone to decomposition in alkaline environments. Peeling can remove over 90% of the remaining epidermis, but it may result in the loss of some dietary fiber. When choosing, seasonal fruits should be given priority, as their pesticide usage is usually lower than that of off-season products. Long term ingestion of pesticide residues may affect the nervous and endocrine systems, and special populations such as pregnant women and children need to pay more attention to cleaning methods.