Why Pumpkins Trap Forever Chemicals — and How Hydroponics Helps

Dr. Russell Sharp explores research showing that squashes, pumpkins and other cucurbits can absorb persistent hydrophobic pollutants (PCBs, dioxin-like compounds, organochlorine pesticides and furans) because a specific plant protein binds these chemicals and transports them into the fruit.

The episode covers the health and food-safety implications, the potential to breed low-accumulating varieties or use phytoremediation, and why growing these crops hydroponically is a safer alternative to avoid soil-borne, long-lasting pesticides.

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Todd C. Wehner — North Carolina State University
Warren Barham Henderson — North Carolina State University
Sam Jenkins — North Carolina State University
Chris Hernandez — University of New Hampshire
A. F. Yeager — University of New Hampshire
Elwyn Meader — University of New Hampshire
J. Brent Loy — University of New Hampshire
Cecilia E. McGregor — University of Georgia
Pamela D. Roberts — University of Florida
Rebecca Grumet — Michigan State University
Zhangjun Fei — Boyce Thompson Institute
Yiqun Weng — USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit (Madison, WI)
Jim Myers — Oregon State University
Chuck Bornt — Cornell Cooperative Extension
Margaret Tuttle McGrath — Cornell University
Michael Mazourek — Cornell University
Jocelyn (Joss) Rose — Cornell University
Neil Mattson — Cornell University
Alan G. Taylor — Cornell University
Elizabeth Maynard — Purdue University
Rosie Lerner — Purdue University
Katie Parker — University of Illinois Extension
Bruce Bugbee — Utah State University
Mark Brand — University of Connecticut
Gerald Berkowitz — University of Connecticut
Vance Whitaker — University of Florida
Craig Schluttenhofer — Central State University
Dan Putnam — University of California, Davis
Brad Hanson — University of California, Davis
Rebecca Sideman — University of New Hampshire
Louise Russell — The James Hutton Institute
David Simpson — NIAB EMR
Howard Griffiths — University of Cambridge
Tracy Lawson — University of Essex
Erik H. Murchie — University of Nottingham
Malcolm Hawkesford — Rothamsted Research
Yiguo Hong — University of Worcester
Owen Atkin — Australian National University
Susanne von Caemmerer — Australian National University
Graham Farquhar — Australian National University
Rana Munns — CSIRO
Robert D. Furbank — CSIRO
Noel Cogan — Agriculture Victoria Research
German Spangenberg — Agriculture Victoria Research
Simone Rochfort — Agriculture Victoria Research
Mathew A. Gilliham — University of Adelaide
Peter Langridge — University of Adelaide
Ute Roessner — University of Melbourne
Mark Lefsrud — McGill University
Adam Dale — University of Guelph
Rowan F. Sage — University of Toronto
Andrew Jamieson — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Kentville)
Hugh Daubeny — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Summerland)
Kim Lewers — USDA-ARS
James Luby — University of Minnesota
John R. Clark — University of Arkansas
Patrick Conner — University of Georgia
David Suchoff — North Carolina State University
Jason Griffin — Kansas State University
Zelalem Mersha — Virginia State University