Environmental hormones found in agricultural products

The Chonnam Institute of Health and Environment Research performed tests for environmental hormones on 10 categories and 240 types of vegetables, fruits and grains from large distributors in the Kwangju, Mokpo and Sunchon areas.

The test results, released Wednesday, showed that 23.8% (57 items) contained environmental hormones including endosulphan.

Testing for environmental hormones in water and soil had been done in the past but this was the first testing done on agricultural products.

There were 12 incidents of environmental hormones in apples, 9 in spinach, five each in imported oranges, strawberries, tomatoes and sesame leaves and two each in imported beans and bananas.

A total of five categories and 9 types of agricultural products, including spinach, apples, imported oranges and imported beans exceeded the acceptable level.

Endosulphan is an environmental hormone harmful to animals and is included in a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) list of 47 harmful environmental hormones. If the environmental hormone is ingested in large amounts, it can cause respiratory problems, sterility, and growth inhibition.