Health risk analysis of pesticide residues in berry fruit from north-eastern Poland

Abstract

The first aim of this paper was to evaluate pesticide residue levels of berry fruit samples. The second aim was to analyze health risks associated with pesticide levels. The monitoring was conducted on samples from producers in north-eastern Poland, during the time period 2005-2010. In total, 241 samples of berry fruit were analyzed using validated and accredited multi residue methods. The studies included 7 commodities (125 strawberry, 59 black currant, 25 raspberry, 23 chokeberry, 7 red currant samples and one sample of elderberry and wild strawberry), and the analysis of 128 pesticides. Residues, mainly insecticides, were found in 47.7% of samples while 40.7% of samples contained pesticide residues below MRLs and 7% above MRLs. The pesticides were found most often in red currant (100%) and black currant (63%) samples. The most frequently detected pesticides were fenazaquin and fenitrothion. Pesticide residues at levels exceeding legally binding MRLs occurred mostly in black currant samples (12 samples). Violations of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) (15 notifications) and use of a forbidden plant protection product (8 notifications) were found in twenty-three berry samples during the six-year study. For these cases, the RASFF system (rapid alert system for food and feed) procedures were initiated. The highest number of notifications was recorded in 2008 (11 notifications). Only one of the notifications was prepared for berry fruit from an integrated production system − black currant, the remaining were for conventional fruit. Among the RASFF notifications, 17 (74%) were for black currant samples.The estimated exposure to pesticide residues detected in the analyzed berry fruit samples was shown to be very low for the general population (adults) and for the critical population of small children. Acute and chronic exposure based on residue levels did not adversely affect consumer health.

Removal of 16 pesticide residues from strawberries by washing with tap and ozone water, ultrasonic cleaning and boiling

“…In our study, washing with tap and ozone water, supported by ultrasonic waves and boiling, was applied to evaluate the effects on the removal of 16 pesticide residues including ten fungicides (boscalid, bupirimate, cyprodinil, fenhexamid, fludioxonil, folpet, iprodione, pyraclostrobin, tetraconazole and trifloxystrobin) and six insecticides (acetamiprid, alpha-cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and pirimicarb) in raw strawberries. The model compounds were chosen based on results from previous studies (Łozowicka et al 2012a , b , 2013 ), and the results of an analysis conducted every year in northeastern Poland within the framework of our monitoring program. The compounds chosen were the most frequently detected in strawberries (Łozowicka et al 2012a , b , 2013 ).…”

“…The model compounds were chosen based on results from previous studies (Łozowicka et al 2012a , b , 2013 ), and the results of an analysis conducted every year in northeastern Poland within the framework of our monitoring program. The compounds chosen were the most frequently detected in strawberries (Łozowicka et al 2012a , b , 2013 ).…”

Assessment of Pesticide Content in Apples and Selected Citrus Fruits Subjected to Simple Culinary Processing

“…Monitoring of pesticide residues in food conducted in Poland in the years 2004-2007 by the State Sanitary Inspection revealed exceeded MRL in 2.3% of analysed samples of apples [66]. In a study conducted by Łozowicka et al [67] in the years 2008-2011, the presence of pesticides was noted in 11.9% (from 1.7% to 19%) of samples of apples from the regions of north-eastern Poland; pesticide levels exceeding the MRL were observed in the range from 0% to 4.4% of the analysed samples of apples. Nonrecommended substances were identified in 0.5% of analysed samples of apples (among fungicides-boscalid, among insecticides-dimethoate) [67].…”

Toxicological evaluation of multi-class pesticide residues in vegetables and associated human health risk study for adults and children

“…Sample preparation and instrumental analysis ( Figure 1) were done using four methods: two multiresidue methods (MRMs) and two single residue methods (SRMs) which were fully described in previous published work (Łozowicka and Kaczyński 2011(Łozowicka and Kaczyński , Łozowicka et al 2012(Łozowicka and Kaczyński , 2012a.…”