Common pesticides used on fruits and vegetables
There are lots of different types of pesticides, all with specific actions. The ones most commonly used on fruits and vegetables are herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and bactericides. These pesticides work by destroying pests such as fungus, weeds, insects and microorganisms. Pesticides are either biodegradable which means they can be broken down by microbes into harmless compounds; or persistent, meaning they can take months or years to break down. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a type of pesticide which are resistant to degradation so they remain in the environment for lengthy periods.
