Pesticide exposure happens in everyday life without most people realizing it, from unwashed produce to household bug sprays and lawn treatments. Environmental health researchers say that while the exact safe level of pesticide exposure remains unknown, there are practical steps you can take right now to reduce your family's contact with these chemicals .

Where Are Pesticides Hiding in Your Home?

When asked about pesticide use, many people assume they're not exposed because they don't think of themselves as using these chemicals. But pesticides are far more pervasive than most realize. Household bug sprays, flea and tick treatments for pets, lawn care products, and even unwashed fruits and vegetables all contribute to daily exposure .

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an advocacy organization focused on environmental health, certain produce items carry significantly higher pesticide residues than others. The EWG's latest report identified spinach, kale, strawberries, and grapes as the most contaminated with pesticide residues .

The health risks associated with common pesticides are concerning. Neonicotinoids, used on crops and in pet treatments; organophosphates, used against agricultural and household pests; and pyrethroids, used as commercial and household insecticides, have all been linked to serious health issues. Additionally, scientists are increasingly concerned about pesticides containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or "forever chemicals," which persist in the environment and the human body .

What Health Problems Have Been Linked to Pesticide Exposure?

Research has connected pesticide exposure to a range of health concerns, though scientists emphasize that most studies show associations rather than definitive cause-and-effect relationships. Pesticides have been associated with neurodevelopmental effects in children and neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease in adults .

Studies have also reported evidence linking pesticide exposure to increased risk of fertility issues, breast cancer, and diabetes. For pregnant people, exposure to certain pesticides has been associated with gestational diabetes, miscarriages, and stillbirths. Children exposed to pesticides in the womb face increased risk of childhood cancers and lower Apgar scores, a metric correlated with long-term health outcomes .

The scientific consensus on pesticide harm has grown significantly stronger in recent years. A group of international scientists, including experts from multiple U.S. universities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Cancer Institute, gathered at a symposium in Seattle to review research from the past decade. Their conclusion was stark: "Evidence showing glyphosate herbicides can harm human health is now so strong that no additional delays in regulation of glyphosate can be justified" .

"It's clear the evidence has changed and become stronger since 2015," said Christopher Portier, a former U.S. government scientist and adjunct professor at Emory University, who participated in the Seattle symposium.

Christopher Portier, Former U.S. Government Scientist and Adjunct Professor, Emory University

The scientists identified evidence from human and animal studies showing that glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides increase the risk of multiple adverse health problems, including diseases of the kidney and liver, as well as impacts to reproductive, endocrine, neurological, and metabolic systems. Children, infants, and fetuses are the most susceptible to these effects .

How to Reduce Your Pesticide Exposure at Home

• Clean produce thoroughly with baking soda: A quick rinse under the kitchen sink is not enough to remove pesticide residues. Soak produce in two cups of water mixed with about one teaspoon of baking soda, which can remove the majority of pesticide residue. One study found that a baking soda solution took 12 to 15 minutes to completely remove pesticide residues from apples. After soaking, take fruits and vegetables out of the water instead of pouring it out, allowing particles to settle at the bottom, then wash again under running water .
• Discard outer leaves of leafy greens: Leafy vegetables like spinach and kale may have higher pesticide levels, particularly on the outer leaves. Removing the outer leaves and diversifying your diet to avoid eating too much of the same produce can help minimize exposure .
• Try different cooking methods: Research suggests that boiling, blanching, or stir-frying vegetables can help reduce pesticide residue more effectively than eating them raw. If possible, choose organic fruits and vegetables, which tend to have lower levels of potentially harmful chemicals. Frozen organic produce can be a more affordable alternative .
• Replace household pesticide sprays with safer alternatives: Instead of using spray insecticides and herbicides, opt for bait traps, glue traps, fly traps, or solid pesticides. Avoid products containing beta-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate, fenpropathrin, malathion, permethrin, bifenthrin, acephate, and bensulide. Manual weeding and organic lawn and garden products can be less toxic alternatives .
• Maintain a clean home environment: Replace HVAC filters every three months, dust weekly with a damp cloth, and use HEPA air filters in rooms where you spend a lot of time. Regularly vacuum with a HEPA filter. If you live near agricultural areas, consider removing your shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in dirt or dust that may contain pesticides. Keep toys inside and frequently clean outdoor toys. Wash your hands often, especially before preparing or eating food .

Melissa Furlong, an environmental health researcher at the University of Arizona, emphasizes that while individual actions matter, they have limits. "It's not reasonable to expect any individual person to be able to control" pesticide exposure entirely, she noted .

"We need a revamp of the entire regulatory framework," said Melissa Furlong, Environmental Health Researcher at the University of Arizona.

Melissa Furlong, Environmental Health Researcher, University of Arizona

Why Regulatory Change Is Essential

While personal actions can reduce exposure, experts agree that meaningful progress requires systemic change. The international scientists who reviewed recent glyphosate research proposed a fundamental overhaul of the pesticide regulatory system. They called for scientific data from independent laboratories free from conflicts of interest, with research costs borne by the pesticide industry itself. Regulatory agencies should base pesticide approval decisions on unbiased health effects data rather than relying heavily on unpublished data submitted by companies seeking product approvals .

The scientists further recommended that regulatory agencies closely monitor pesticide use, exposure data, and harmful outcomes, especially for susceptible and highly exposed groups. Ultimately, they concluded, pesticide use must be reduced overall and "eliminated to the extent possible" to protect human health, ecosystems, and future generations .

"There is a huge contrast, conflict, between the scientific consensus and the regulatory perspective. This is the starkest example of that," said Lianne Sheppard, symposium organizer and professor in public health sciences at the University of Washington.

Lianne Sheppard, Professor in Public Health Sciences, University of Washington

The gap between scientific evidence and regulatory action remains a critical challenge. Tracey Woodruff, a professor at Stanford University and former senior scientist for the EPA's Office of Policy, pointed to industry influence as a major barrier. "It's hard to get the government to change, particularly because the industry spends a lot of money lobbying Congress to make sure the laws favor their point of view," she explained .

For now, taking practical steps to reduce your family's pesticide exposure remains important while advocating for stronger regulations. The science is clear that pesticide exposure poses real health risks, and both individual vigilance and systemic change are necessary to protect public health.