If you’re not already buying organic foods and giving your produce a good rinse, here’s another reason why you should do both.

New research shows exposure to pesticides used on commercially-grown fruits and vegetables—particularly frozen blueberries, fresh strawberries and celery—appears to boost the chances children will be diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). In the study children who tested positive for a pesticide byproduct had roughly twice the odds of being diagnosed with the disorder. ADHD currently affects an estimated 4.5 million U.S. children and 4.7 percent of American adults.

So we can add that the list of reasons to avoid pesticide-laden foods, including damage to land and water and harmful exposure for workers and consumers.

Add that to the fact that organophosphate pesticides, which account for 70 percent of pesticides used in the U.S., are designed to have toxic effects on the nervous systems of insects. And yes, they also have a similar effect on mammals—that means you. They weasel their way into our bodies; most Americans even have residues of this pesticide in their urine.

Before you start using this as an excuse to pass on peas, consider this: the U.S. Food Department of Agriculture (think: Food Pyramid) recommends that adults chow down 2-3 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruits per day (check out your daily recommendation here).

So to avoid pesticides, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) advises shoppers to buy organic versions of fruits and veggies that grow in the ground or are eaten with the skin because they’re most likely to be contaminated. Check out EWG’s list of the “dirty dozen” foods you should buy organic, and the “clean 15” not to fret.

And, there’s good news if you buy local produce: “National surveys have also shown that fruits and vegetables from farmer’s markets contain less pesticides even if they’re not organic,” says the lead author of the study, Maryse Bouchard, PhD.

Graze on this: Knowing where your food comes from, giving it a good scrub and eating a variety of fresh foods will keep you in the green.

Check out ydt’s own guide to sussing out sustainable foods sans pesticides here.

Photos by Greencolander of Flickr, BlatantNews.com, Free Extras and Emily Goldstone