Greenpeace Türkiye’s “Pestisitler ve Çocuklar (Pesticides and Children)” report has once again revealed the extent of pesticide use.1
The dark side of pesticide residues—long overlooked and legitimized under the guidance of agricultural necessity—has been brought back into the spotlight by Greenpeace Türkiye’s press release dated April 28, 2025. This time, however, the issue is not confined to the narrow debate over whether agricultural chemicals exceed legal limits. The discussion now extends to banned substances, unauthorized applications, complex pesticide combinations, and the environmentally alarming group of chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
The report, prepared through laboratory analysis of 155 fruit and vegetable samples obtained from five supermarket chains and various neighborhood markets, states that more than one pesticide residue was detected in 94 of the samples—approximately 61%. In other words, in roughly two out of every three samples, not just a single pesticide residue was found, but mixtures of two, three, or even four different pesticides. Moreover, 51 of these samples were placed on the market in violation of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides.
It is stated that PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) containing pesticides were found in 67 of the samples. PFASs are chemical compounds that are extremely resistant to environmental degradation due to the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in their structures and can survive for long periods in both nature and biological systems.
The effects of PFAS on human health have begun to be detailed in toxicological and epidemiological studies in recent years, and scientific data have shown that PFASs, especially perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), cause biological damage to various organ systems. These substances accumulate in the blood plasma, liver and kidney tissue for a long time without undergoing biotransformation after being taken into the body, causing systemic toxicity.
Long-term observational studies show that PFAS exposure can cause hepatotoxic effects, thyroid hormone imbalances, suppression of immune system functions and negativities related to fertility. There is strong evidence that prenatal exposure in particular poses a teratogenic risk factor on fetal development and can have permanent effects on neurological development.
Pesticide Use Sees 100% Increase Compared to Previous Reports
In a similar study conducted in 2020, pesticide residue exceeding legal limits was detected in only 15.6% of analyzed products, while this rate increased to 33% in 2025. Roughly doubled. This situation shows that the measures taken in five years, public inspections, awareness campaigns or legislative regulations have not been effective.
In the scope of the research conducted in Istanbul, the products that are proportionally most in violation of the legislation are as follows:
| Pickled Leaf | 80% |
| Green Pepper | 70% |
| Spinach | 67% |
| Curly Lettuce | 40% |
| Pear | 40% |
| Grape | 40% |
| Apple (Golden and Starking) | 30% |
| Bell Pepper | 20% |
| Aubergine | 20% |
The Climate Crisis is Changing Agricultural Practices
Climate change is disrupting the ecological balance in agricultural lands. The surge in insect populations is pushing farmers to seek alternative methods to protect crop yields. One pressing question arises: Does the increase in insect populations due to global warming lead to higher chemical usage? In an email dated May 28, 2025, sent to ULUKAYIN, Greenpeace Türkiye Director Berkan ÖZYER states:
Scientific research indicates that the climate crisis is driving changes in agricultural practices aimed at maintaining crop yields in the face of increasing insect populations. Due to the climate crisis, planting dates have shifted, preferred seed varieties have diversified, and this trend is expected to continue. Farmers need to implement adjustments, such as changing crops, to protect yields against the growing insect populations. However, academic studies highlight that increased pesticide use in response to rising insect populations leads to pesticide resistance, which is unsustainable and ultimately results in yield losses. Therefore, the solution, as emphasized in our Ecological Agriculture Report, lies in ecological pest management.
So, is the inadequacy of the current legislation or the failure to comply with the legislation another reason why pesticide use is “out of control”?
The problem with pesticide use stems from both inadequate legal regulations and non-compliance with existing legislation, highlighting a lack of effective oversight. Although certain hazardous active ingredients—pesticides—are banned in Türkiye, they are still being used in the field, which serves as a clear indication of insufficient enforcement. Moreover, even pesticide use that complies with current regulations can adversely affect children’s health and harm biodiversity, leading to pollution of air, water, and soil. This situation reveals that the existing legislation is neither designed with public health nor ecosystem protection in mind, ultimately hindering the implementation of comprehensive measures.
- Greenpeace Türkiye. (2025, April 28). Greenpeace türkiye’den “Pestisitler ve çocuklar” Raporu: 155 ürünün yüzde 61’Inde çoklu pestisit Kalıntısı Bulundu. Greenpeace. Accessed 2025, May 15.[↩]
