Are pesticides harmful?

Are pesticides used in growing coconuts? What are they and are they harmful?

• People drink a lot of coconut water, thinking it's healthy. Coconut water is typically not organic. Are they drinking pesticides?

• Answer:

  Coconut farmers can use any of hundreds of different pesticides, depending on what's needed in their environment. In general, it's not your biggest concern (not compared to the general problem of believing that coconut water is a magic health-drink). Most pesticides are washed off; you don't consume the outside of the coconut. There are some systemic pesticides, which can potentially make it into the coconut water, though in very small amounts. If you're truly worried about it, finding an organic one is your only real option.