Photo Credit: Tatiana Vdb

A recent study published by Harvard University researchers in the scientific journal JAMA Internal Medicine has found that increased dietary consumption of pesticide residues is associated with a lower probability of live births in their study population.  The study assessed the intake of fruits and vegetables known to have high levels of pesticide residues vs. fruits and vegetables known to have low levels of pesticide residues for 325 women undergoing fertility treatment. Researchers found that women who reported consuming the most fruits and vegetables known to have high levels of pesticide contamination had an 18% lower probability of clinical pregnancy and a 26% lower probability of live birth compared to women reporting low intakes of fruits and vegetables known to have high pesticide residues. “Higher consumption of high–pesticide residue FVs was associated with lower probabilities of pregnancy and live birth following infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies. These data suggest that dietary pesticide exposure within the range of typical human exposure may be associated with adverse reproductive consequences,” the authors noted.