We’re always advised to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming them, especially since modern agriculture often relies heavily on pesticides to maintain fresh produce. But even with careful washing, how can we really be sure that our produce is safe and free from these invisible chemicals? It’s a question that has puzzled many—and one that a young scientist has set out to solve with an innovative device that detects pesticide residue.
Fourteen-year-old Sirish Subash from Snellville, Georgia, took first place in the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the 3M and Discovery Education Challenge, held in St. Paul, Minnesota. For his invention, Sirish has been recognized as America’s Top Young Scientist. Citing data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Sirish demonstrated how 70.6% of produce items contain pesticide residues. These remnants, if consumed by living beings, can lead to serious diseases such as brain cancer, leukemia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
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Unconvinced that washing alone could remove pesticide residues, Sirish developed PestiSCAND, a device designed to detect lingering pesticides even after produce is washed. PestiSCAND uses a noninvasive technique known as spectrophotometry, which involves shining light onto produce and then analyzing the reflected light with AI to detect any pesticides present.
According to reports, Sirish invested nearly 11 months in creating this innovative technology. To evaluate PestiSCAND’s effectiveness, he tested the AI-powered handheld detector on spinach and tomatoes, achieving an accuracy rate of over 85%. This level of precision met the project’s goals for both speed and effectiveness, as confirmed by 3M. The device could be highly beneficial as farmers increasingly rely on chemicals to boost crop production to meet demand.
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To use it, users will need to download a phone app, point PestiSCAND at the fruit or vegetable, and tap the scan button. If the scanner detects pesticides, the fruit or vegetable needs more rinsing. The device earned him the $25,000 grand prize at this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge, surpassing nine other finalists. While the technology is still in its early stages, Subash eventually hopes to create a version that can detect hundreds of different pesticides and measure the amount remaining after an initial wash, helping users decide if additional rinsing is needed.
