Abstract
Pesticides are widely used in food production, yet the potential harm associated with their emission into the environment is rarely considered in the context of sustainable diets. In this study, a life cycle assessment was used to quantify the freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity carcinogenic effects, and human toxicity noncarcinogenic effects associated with pesticide use in relation to 9341 individual Australian adult daily diets. The three environmental indicators were also combined into a pesticide toxicity footprint, and a diet quality score was applied to each diet. Energy-dense and nutrient-poor discretionary foods, fruits, and protein-rich foods were the sources of most of the dietary pesticide impacts. Problematically, a dietary shift toward recommended diets was found to increase the pesticide toxicity footprint compared to the current average diet. Using a quadrant analysis, a recommended diet was identified with a 38% lower pesticide toxicity footprint. This was achieved mainly through a reduction in the discretionary food intake and by limiting the choice of fresh fruits. As the latter contradicts dietary recommendations to eat a variety of fruits of different types and colors, we concluded that dietary change may not be the best approach to lowering the environmental impacts of pesticides in the food system. Instead, targeted action in the horticultural industry may be more effective. Consumers might encourage this transition by supporting growers that reduce pesticide use and apply less environmentally harmful active ingredients.
Highlights
While the primary purpose of dietary guidance is to promote health through the life stages and to reduce the incidence of diet-related disease [1,2], steps are being taken to integrate environmental sustainability [3–6]
The food system is a major source of environmental impacts, and the adoption of more sustainable diets [7] is widely viewed as having an important role in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals [8]
The environmental impacts of pesticide emissions during food production are a relevant environmental concern, and this study provided new understanding about the variations among individual daily diets and the main contributing food groups, namely discretionary foods, fruits, and meats and alternatives
Summary
While the primary purpose of dietary guidance is to promote health through the life stages and to reduce the incidence of diet-related disease [1,2], steps are being taken to integrate environmental sustainability [3–6]. There are different types of land use, and regions differ in biodiversity conservation importance [14] Other environmental concerns, such as the toxicity impacts of pesticide emissions or the human health impacts of fine particulate matter emissions, have rarely been studied in the context of dietary patterns [9]. This means that the evidence base to support sustainable dietary guidance is incomplete and biased toward the reduction in climate impacts. The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization works to improve pesticide management and gives priority to addressing the risks of highly hazardous pesticides [25] These efforts align with Sustainable Development Goal 12.4 that relates to minimizing the adverse impacts on human health and the environment from chemicals. As far as we know, this is the first study of its kind to assess the pesticide toxicity footprint associated with diets in a large sample of individuals
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