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Background Vegetables and rice produced in Cuba may contain residue of pesticides that exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Pesticide residues on crop samples from Sancti Spíritus province were analyzed. Based on these residue data, a risk assessment of consumer exposure was conducted. Methods Samples collected during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 periods were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS and GC/ECD chromatography techniques. A deterministic risk assessment was performed, using consumption data collected by the authors. Also, a probabilistic risk assessment was worked out with @RISK for the Monte Carlo simulation. Results A broad range of pesticides were detected in the samples. Most of the detected active ingredients were insecticides and fungicides. A considerable part of the detected pesticide residues exceeded the EU and Cuban MRLs. However, the deterministic risk assessment revealed that the consumer risk of pesticide exposure is low. Only in the maximum exposure scenario children and adults were exposed to methamidophos residues in tomatoes higher than the acceptable daily intake. Conclusions When a more realistic consumption (50th percentile) and higher (95th percentile) consumption pattern for tomatoes was assumed, the deterministic risk assessment found no chronic risk for children and adults being exposed to methamidophos present in the tomato samples. Furthermore, the probabilistic risk assessment concerning methamidophos exposure in tomato for children and adult strata showed no risk. To perform in the future a more accurate risk assessment for Cuban consumers it is important to have more detailed consumption data and an expanded dataset of the residues in different crops.

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Aim of study: To quantify the toxicity and ecotoxicological pressure of pesticides in Sancti Spíritus province, Cuba, between 2011 and 2014.Material and methods: A longitudinal descriptive study was designed for the study period, to identify potential risks to the environment and human health associated with the use of pesticides. In order to determine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide use, ƩSeq (Spread equivalents), POCER (Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk) indicator, and the Toxic Load (TL) methodology of the Plant Health Cuban Institute were used.Main results: Corresponding to 62 chemical families, 124 active ingredients were applied in the province during the study period. Organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, inorganic compounds (such as copper), dithiocarbamates, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, neonicotinoids, sulfonylurea, triazoles, and organochlorines predominated due to their frequency of use. Use of toxic-pesticides, lack of personal protection equipment amount others made workers, residents and applicators the toxicological modules with the highest risk of exposure. From the POCER results we found that aquatic organisms, persistence, and groundwater are the modules with the highest ecotoxicological pressure.Research highlights: With the use of the POCER indicator as well as ƩSeq, a more accurate assessment of toxicity and ecotoxicity from certain pesticide can be done instead of the TL equation currently used in Cuba. In addition substitution of the most toxic pesticides by less toxic ones could help to reduce synthetic pesticide pressure on humans and the environment. This study can help to develop policies and management practices to reduce the hazards of synthetic pesticide use in Cuba.