A 14-year-old boy from Georgia, Sirish Subash, recently won the award for America’s Top Young Scientist at the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. His invention, which promises to change the way we look at food safety, won the 9th grader a $25,000 grand prize! So, what was his invention? Providing a potential solution we have had for ages regarding our food, he has created a handheld device capable of detecting pesticide residue in our produce!
The Pesticide Detector
Young Sirish had always wondered if simply washing fruit and vegetables really made them safe for consumption. It was something his mother always insisted that he do, which made him want to find out more about how effective this practice truly was. According to research, around 70% of the produce we consume contains pesticide residue. This is concerning because these residues have been linked to a range of health issues, including Alzheimer’s and cancer. However, people who eat organic produce have reduced urinary pesticide levels.
The Creation of PestiSCAND
Sirish felt that if there was some way to detect these pesticides, then they could be avoided. With that thought in mind, he began working on his new device, PestiSCAND, a tool that uses spectrophotometry to identify chemical residues. The device identifies these chemicals by analyzing the light waves reflected from the produce. The light is then analyzed by an AI sensor which is capable of detecting traces of pesticide with 85% accuracy. This is regarded as an incredible breakthrough in both accessibility and efficiency.
Testing the Pesticide Detecting Device
Sirish put his device through extensive testing – using it on over 12,000 samples, such as spinach, apples, tomatoes, and strawberries. After the prototype met all his expectations, he started refining the design, hoping to be able to sell it for only $20 per unit. Sirish hopes to be able to bring his device to the market by the time he starts college.
The Competition
Sirish refined his device over a period of four months with the support of a 3M mentor. The final competition was held in Minnesota, where he stood out among the other talented young scientists. Torie Clarke, 3M’s chief public affairs officer, called the young finalists “inspiring examples of creativity and purpose-driven innovation”.
Sirish’s Plans for the Future
The young scientist plans to invest the money he won in his future education, hoping to pursue his passion for engineering and physics at MIT. He’s been given a taste of the major leagues, ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange following an interview there. At the young tender age of 15, he shows us how the future generation of changemakers are already hard at work, transforming their curiosity into influence.
Studies on Pesticides
The British Journal of Nutrition conducted a meta-analysis of 343 peer-reviewed publications that found “statistically significant differences in composition between organic and non-organic crops/crop-based foods.” According to the study, organic foods contain 19% more phenolic acids, 28% more stilbenes, 69% more flavanones, 26% more flavones, 50% more flavonol, and 51% more anthocyanins. Aside from nutritional value, the study evaluated levels of the harmful element Cadmium and discovered “significantly higher concentrations” in typical diets. Conventional foods appear to contain over 50% more cadmium than those that are organic. Additionally, significant differences were also observed for various minerals and vitamins.
Further Pesticide Studies
A separate study published in the journal Environmental Research demonstrated that consuming an organic diet for just one week significantly lowered pesticide exposure in individuals by up to 90%. A 2019 study found that our diet is the most common source of exposure to pesticides in kids and adults. It revealed that an organic diet considerably reduced OP pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, and 2,4-D exposure, clothianidin, malathion, and chlorpyrifos.
The Bottom Line
Our foods expose us to a number of harmful synthetic pesticides that have been linked to several health concerns. However, thanks to advances in technology, we will be able to determine if our food is safe to consume. Yet, it may be a while before we see a drop in the levels of pesticides present in our food. Therefore, it is better to choose an organic diet where the produce is grown without pesticides in the first place. As research has shown, once people start eating an organic diet, their pesticide levels began to drop dramatically. If you are concerned about the levels of pesticide in your produce, perhaps its time to make the change!
Read More: 17 Year Old Wins $250,000 Top Prize For Inventing Tool That Could Prevent Starvation