Quantitative Analysis of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Residues in Foods: Implication for Dietary Exposures

Abstract

This study quantitatively measured neonicotinoids in various foods that are common to human consumption. All fruit and vegetable samples (except nectarine and tomato) and 90% of honey samples were detected positive for at least one neonicotinoid; 72% of fruits, 45% of vegetables, and 50% of honey samples contained at least two different neonicotinoids in one sample, with imidacloprid having the highest detection rate among all samples. All pollen samples from New Zealand contained multiple neonicotinoids, and five of seven pollens from Massachusetts detected positive for imidacloprid. These results show the prevalence of low-level neonicotinoid residues in fruits, vegetables, and honey that are readily available in the market for human consumption and in the environment where honeybees forage. In light of new reports of toxicological effects in mammals, the results strengthen the importance of assessing dietary neonicotinoid intakes and the potential human health effects.

High-throughput HPLC–MS/MS determination of the persistence of neonicotinoid insecticide residues of regulatory interest in dietary bee pollen

“…The proposed method produces better recoveries (more than 81 % for all compounds) and LOQs (less than 1.6 μg kg -1 ) than the method proposed by Pohorecka et al [12] (recoveries between 70 and 110 % and LOQs between 1 and 3 μg kg -1 ). Although similar recoveries (87-111 %) were obtained by Chen et al [35] and Kamel [17], the proposed method has better precision (RSD<9 % for all compounds).…”

Developmental neurotoxicity of succeeding generations of insecticides

“…NEs are present in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and in honey that are available in the market for human consumption (Chen and others 2014a). These compounds are present in food even in countries where their use was suspended for seed treatment, evidencing illicit use (Sabatino and others 2013).…”

Acute Poisoning with Neonicotinoid Insecticide

“…In mammals, the predominant receptor subtype is α4p2, which is found to have the highest density in the thalamus. In the developing brain, this subtype is involved in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, diferentiation, synapse formation and neuronal circuits [22]. Given that in mammals nicotinic receptors have a wider distribution (neuromuscular junction), the neonicotinoid ainity for these receptors is lower and the central action is reduced because of poor intracerebral penetration [17].…”