Dirty dozen UK 2026: PFAS pollution, drinking water risks and regulations
“Dirty dozen” is a useful phrase for a complicated problem: it suggests twelve clear-cut places, ranked from worst to best. But there is no official UK list of twelve PFAS-polluted…
Pesticide bans and water quality: what they mean for PFAS pollution
When a pesticide is banned, it is tempting to assume the water problem has been solved. But chemicals do not disappear when their approval ends. Some remain in soil and…
Dirty dozen pesticides: health risks, water contamination and ways to reduce exposure
“Dirty Dozen” sounds like the name of a list of dangerous chemicals. It is not. The term usually refers to an annual list of fruit and vegetables that the US…
Foods with pesticides: common sources and ways to reduce exposure
Finding a pesticide residue on food does not automatically mean that food is unsafe. It does, however, raise a reasonable question: where are residues most likely to occur, and what…
Dirty dozen fruits and vegetables: how to reduce pesticide exposure and protect your health
“Dirty Dozen” is the name given to an annual list of fruits and vegetables that, in tests, are more likely than others to carry detectable pesticide residues. It can be…
Glyphosate dangers: what are the risks to health and water quality?
Glyphosate dangers: what are the risks to health and water quality? Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. It is applied to control weeds in…
Dirty dozen vegetables fruits: what the list means for pesticide exposure and water quality
A bag of spinach and a punnet of strawberries can look like a healthy, straightforward choice. But some shoppers see those foods on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list…
Organic food dirty dozen: what the list reveals about pesticide residues and PFAS risks
The “Dirty Dozen” is one of the most recognisable food lists in the United States. Published each year by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), it highlights conventionally grown fruit and…
Does organic food have pesticides? What you need to know about residues and exposure
Organic food is often associated with fewer synthetic chemicals, but “organic” does not mean “pesticide-free”. Organic farmers can use certain pesticides when needed, provided they meet strict rules. And both…
Food with pesticides: how residues affect health and the environment
Fresh produce is often presented as an uncomplicated choice: colourful, nutritious and good for you. But some fruit and vegetables carry traces of pesticides used to protect crops from insects,…