Risk assessment of pesticide residues in domestic ginsengs

Abstract

The study aims at taking risk assessment of pesticide residues in ginseng and high risk pesticides were picked up in order to provide a scientific basis for the establishment of maximum residue limits(MRLs) for pesticides in ginseng. Residues of 246 pesticides in 80 ginseng samples collected from different place were detected by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS method. Acute and chronic intake risks were evaluated by using deterministic approach, and the matrix ranking developed by the Veterinary Residues Committee of the United Kingdom was referred to assess risk score of pesticides. The 25 kinds of pesticide residues were detected in ginseng samples, the detection rate of quintozene(PCNB) was 78%, which was the most frequently detectable pesticide. The chronic dietary intake risks of 25 pesticide residues expressed as %ADI were 0.00%-2.6%, and their acute dietary intake risks expressed as %ARfD were 0.00%-104.2%. Among them the acute dietary intake risks of PCNB was 104%,which was the highest. The 25 pesticides were divided into 3 groups by risk score, high risk group(4 pesticides), medium risk group(6 pesticides), and low risk group(15 pesticides). Hexachlorobenzene, phorate, PCNB and BHC were classified as high risk group. It is necessary and effective to establish the limit of residual organic chlorine in ginseng from Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2015 edition). MRLs for PCNB and hexachlorobenzene in ginseng were proposed to be revised based on the results of risk assessment.