This is the link to the article I responded to, dissing the EWG (Environmental Working Group) work on the most heavily contaminated fruits and veggies: The Dirty Dozen (2012). They also listed the Cleanest Fifteen. I neglected to include the link (the title False Choices) to it so you could read it yourself!
My argument was that is was a false choice being set up.
You can NOT know that something is “safe” until you have done long-term studies and some effects don’t show up for 20-30 years.
We need real Info!
There are only “safe” limits for acute toxic effects.
The choice is not between eating food with pesticides or NOT eating veggies/fruit at all.
You CAN choose to eat organic, preferably local, and avoid the whole question. Yes, it will hurt the pesticide companies and their users, but my vote is the longterm safety of our children and the soil.
When you are told that 97% of tested products are “safe” according to federal standards… just what does that mean. First off, how much is actually tested.
If I test 100 apples out of 1 million, that’s not enough data to be significant…. and where did those apples come from… China, Canada, Chili?
And as I pointed out: safe federal levels ONLY refer to acute toxicity… not long-term exposure.
Results of MercuryPoisoning
Do you know where the term “mad as a hatter” came from? In the 1800’s when everyone wore hats (i.e. big market in making hats) mercury was used in the process. Guess what mercury does to the brain, while it is being absorbed through the skin & the vapors breathed in. I’m guessing those “hatters” were told it was “safe” to use.
My grandfather died from a rare leukemia that was later found to be related to the “benzene” that the men in oil fields routinely used, to clean their hands.
It take a while to get the answer!
He died at 50. He started working in the oil fields when he was 25. I guess enough “retrospective data” was finally collected to get the answer on longterm toxicity with that chemical.
It’s the day in/ day out exposure to this stuff (pesticides, herbcides, neurotoxins) that has me concerned.
The reality is that it is only with conscious choice, that we can begin to control how much exposure we do have.
The “bean counters” are only interested in profit margin… even if they cut their own throat, longterm, in the process! Sad, but I think, too true.
Ruminations 
You wanted to say?