Dissipation and dietary risk assessment of carbendazim and epoxiconazole in citrus fruits in China

Abstract

BACKGROUND Carbendazim and epoxiconazole are widely applied to control anthracnose and sand bark fungal diseases in citrus. The residues of these two fungicides in citrus and their potential risk to consumers have generated much public concern. We therefore sought to investigate the dissipation, residue, and dietary risk assessment of carbendazim and epoxiconazole in citrus. RESULTS The dissipation kinetics and residue levels of carbendazim and epoxiconazole in citrus under field conditions were measured using dispersive solid‐phase extraction and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The citrus samples were extracted with acetonitrile and purified by primary secondary amine sorbent. The mean recoveries of carbendazim and epoxiconazole ranged from 86.2 to 105.6% and relative standard deviations were ≤9.8%. The half‐lives of carbendazim and epoxiconazole in whole citrus ranged from 2.0 to 18.0 days. Hazard quotient (HQ) and risk quotient (RQ) models were applied to whole citrus for dietary exposure risk assessment based on the terminal residue test. Hazard quotients ranged from 0.066 to 0.134% and RQs from 18.48 to 82.12%. CONCLUSION Carbendazim and epoxiconazole in citrus degraded rapidly following first‐order kinetics models. The dietary risk of exposure to both carbendazim and epoxiconazole through citrus, based on HQ and RQ, was acceptable for human consumption. This study indicates scientifically validated maximum residue limits in citrus, which are currently lacking for epoxiconazole in China. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry

Surveillance of the Field-Incurred Pesticide Residues in Kinnow Mandarin and Evaluation of Acute, Chronic and Cumulative Exposure Risks to the Consumers

“…For instance, the %ADI values for citrus fruits in Saudi Arabia were 0.01%, 0.07%, 0.09% and 0.19% for bifenthrin, carbendazim, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, respectively (Picó et al, 2018). The chronic risks (%ADI) due to citrus fruits consumption, reported by Jardim et al (2018) for Brazilian population was 0.23-0.92% for carbendazim, whereas, it was about 82% calculated for Chinese population by Zhang et al (2021). They have concluded that no unacceptable health risks can be expected from citrus fruits consumption, for the consumers from their studied age group.…”

Metabolic Activation and Cytotoxicity of Fungicide Carbendazim Mediated by CYP1A2

“…8 CBZ plays a key role in the prevention and control of common pathogenic bacteria in citrus cultivation. 9 The broad utilization of CBZ in citrus led to serious contamination with orange juice distributed in Brazil in 2012, which resulted in a trade crisis in the country. 10 Studies have demonstrated that a high concentration of CBZ is harmful to humans, invertebrates, aquatic life forms, and soil microorganisms.…”

“…CBZ is one of the main contaminants detected in foods . CBZ plays a key role in the prevention and control of common pathogenic bacteria in citrus cultivation . The broad utilization of CBZ in citrus led to serious contamination with orange juice distributed in Brazil in 2012, which resulted in a trade crisis in the country…”