This Monday, Greenpeace, an independent organization dedicated to protecting and serving the environment, made news in the media after the disclosure of the results of a study on what is supposed to be a very healthy drink: tea.

The organization tested 11 brands of tea made by eight manufacturers, with sample collection occurring between June 2013 and May 2014. What they found is truly astounding.

At least 94 percent of the samples contained pesticides; nearly 60 percent had a cocktail of over 10 different chemicals, including one sample that contained 20 different pesticides.

Approximately 29 of the 49 samples, or 59 percent, had active residues of at least one pesticide above the maximum residue limits set by the European Union. Nearly 40 percent of tea samples exceeded EU limits by more than 50 percent, according to the study, "Trouble Brewing. "

Alarmingly, 67 percent of tea samples are contaminated with DDT, a toxic human and environmental carcinogen banned for use in the United States and Europe. It causes convulsions and tremors and one dies from respiratory or cardiac failure.

The samples taken by Greenpeace manufactured in India are well known and are linked to the following brands:

• Hindustan Unilever Ltd
• Tata Global Beverages Limited
• Wagh Bakri tea
• Goodricke tea
• Twinings
• Golden tips
• Kho-Cha
• Girnar

India-based companies dominate the branded tea market, exporting to America, Russia, Britain, United Arab Emirates, Iran and several other countries, as reported by Business Standard.

In light of Greenpeace's test results in India, some of the companies have pledged to end the use of hazardous pesticides and promised to achieve a sustainable tea crop by 2020.

"Indian tea is a national pride and should not be linked to toxic environmental chemicals and health risks. All stakeholders in the tea industry should come forward and take action to protect the reputation of our national beverage," said Neha Saigal , campaigns manager for Greenpeace India.

The Tea Board of India, consisting of 31 members from industry producers including tea, tea traders, tea brokers, consumers and government representatives from major tea producing countries and trade unions, argued that Indian teas are "completely safe. "

The board of directors of the Indian Tea organization said in a statement, "having seen the findings of the Greenpeace study, allows to confirm that all samples tested are in compliance with Indian laws and regulations, aimed at protecting consumers. "

If the board really looked at the results of the study, then their statement is quite revealing. It reflects a blatant disregard for health and safety.

Despite proven adverse health effects on humans and the environment, the tea industry is still heavily reliant on hazardous pesticides to grow tea.

Of the samples, 27 contain monocrotophos, a suspected mutagen and neurotoxicant not approved for use on tea and classified as "highly hazardous" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Triazophos, an extremely toxic organophosphorus compound, was found in five of the samples and is classified as also "very dangerous" by the WHO.

Tebufenpyrade, an unregistered and illegal chemical THEREFORE known to be a liver toxicant, was found in a sample made up by Hindustan Unilever, the most dominant brand in the Indian market.

Insecticides neonicotinoids were present in many of the samples, a chemical recently banned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and banned from use in many other developing countries.