The foliar loss of pesticides causes serious utilization decline and environmental risk. On the basis of biomimetics, pesticide-loaded microcapsules (MCs) with spontaneous deformation on foliar micro/nanostructures, like the snail suction cup, are prepared by interfacial polymerization. By controlling the usage or types of small alcohols in the MC preparation system, the flexibility of MCs is tunable. Through the investigation of emulsions and MC structures, we discover that the migration and distribution of small alcohols driven by amphiphilicity affect the process of interfacial polymerization between polyethylene glycol and 4,4-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate. By hydrophobic modification of the polymer and competition for oil monomers of small alcohols, the thickness and compactness of shells are reduced, whereas the density of the core is increased. As a result of the regulation in structures, the flexibility of MCs is improved significantly. In particularly, the MCs-N-pentanol (0.1 mol kg −1 ) with the best flexibility show strong scouring resistance on varied foliar structures, sustained release property on the air/solid interface, and persistent control effect against foliar diseases. The pesticide-loaded soft MCs provide an effective way to improve pesticide foliar utilization.

A survey was designed to investigate the pesticide residues in agricultural produce and to estimate their potential intake risks to inhabitants. A total of 314 samples of nine types of fruits and vegetables were collected from the supermarkets and vegetable markets of Shandong Province (China) from October 2020 to February 2022. An accurate and reliable multi-residue method, based on GC-MS/MS detection, as well as the multiplug filtration cleanup method, based on SBA-15-C18, was prepared by a solution chemical reaction. Additionally, an in situ co-condensation method was established for the quantification of 139 pesticide residues. Residues that contained no pesticides were detected in 66.5% of the 314 samples. Moreover, of the samples, 30.6% were at or below the MRLs, and 2.9% were above the MRLs. Residues of procymidone were found to be the one that most often exceeded the MRLs (1.3% of the samples). Tebuconazole was found most frequently in 22.0% of the samples analyzed. Consumer exposure to the 139 pesticides did not exceed 100% ADI and ARfD. This led to a consideration that these pesticide residues in the nine commodities may not raise the health risk of the consumers in the long and short term. The highest value of chronic dietary intake was obtained from spirodiclofen, which resulted in a 24.1% of ADI. Furthermore, the highest exposure levels in the short term were obtained from the consumption of leeks with procymidone (58.3% ARfD).