Pesticide traces in local crops of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba: risk assessment study

Abstract

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.

An Assessment Of Health Risks Posed By Consumption Of Pesticide Residues In Fruits And Vegetables Among Residents In The Kampala Metropolitan Area In Uganda

“…Many pesticides were detected in all studied fruits and vegetables with levels below the EU MRLs except for Fonofos, fenitrothion and fenhexamid. Our ndings are consistent with existing literature showing detection of many pesticides in fruits and vegetables [50,51,55,56]. Like our ndings, many past studies have pesticide residue levels that are above MRL values, especially organophosphates like fenitrothion [46,48,53,54,[57][58][59][60].…”

Simultaneous Analysis of Mycotoxins, Potentially Toxic Elements, and Pesticides in Rice: A Health Risk Assessment Study

“…This acaricide and fungicide were only detectable in the Pakistani group, which was below the ISIRI permissible limit (0.05 mg kg −1 ). Additionally, López-Dávila et al [ 50 ] observed no chlorothalonil contamination in their rice sample in Cuba. Generally, the most appropriate status of pesticide contamination belonged to Thai samples with no detectable concentration of pesticides.…”