Chronic Dietary Risk Research Articles

Screening for suitable chemical acaricides against two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae, on greenhouse strawberries in China

Effective and safe acaricides based on scientific data are needed for that no chemical acaricides has been registered for the control of two-spotted spider mite in strawberry crops in China. To identify suitable acaricides, the efficacy, persistence, and toxicity of eight acaricides (hexythiazox, fenpyroximate, chlorfenapyr, propargite, etoxazole, bifenazate, spirodiclofen, and pyridaben) on greenhouse strawberries were tested. The eight acaricides were ranked, from highest average efficacy at the recommended dosage to lowest, as follows: etoxazole > bifenazate > fenpyroximate > propargite > spirodiclofen > pyridaben > hexythiazox> chlorfenapyr. The average recoveries of the eight acaricides at the spiking levels of 0.05 and 0.5 mg/L ranged from 72.4% to 108.1% (relative standard deviation, 1.3–8.8%). The concentrations of hexythiazox, fenpyroximate, etoxazole, bifenazate, spirodiclofen, and pyridaben at 5 days after application were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) specified by China, the European Union (EU), the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and Japan, but those of chlorfenapyr and propargite residues were 8.8 and 1.9 times higher than the MRLs in the EU. Only propargite posed a high chronic dietary risk to humans. Pyridaben and chlorfenapyr showed unacceptable ecotoxicology risks for honeybees (hazard quotient values of > 50). The recommended acaricides to control spider mites in greenhouse-grown strawberry crops are etoxazole, bifenazate, fenpyroximate, spirodiclofen, and hexythiazox based on the efficacy, persistence and toxicity.

The 2016 European Union report on pesticide residues in food.

This report provides an insight into the official control activities carried out by EU Member States, Iceland and Norway in 2016. Based on the analytical results provided by the reporting countries, a detailed data analysis was performed regarding pesticide occurrence in the most important food products consumed and the dietary risk related to the exposure of European consumers to pesticide residues. Overall, 96.2% of the 84,657 samples analysed fell within the legal limits (81,482 samples). In total, 50.7% of the tested samples were free of quantifiable residues (residue levels below the limit of quantification (LOQ)), while 45.5% of the samples analysed contained quantified residues not exceeding the maximum residue levels (MRLs). The findings on pesticide residues are described for the following categories: products of plant origin, products of animal origin, imported food, organic products and baby food. The acute and chronic dietary risk assessment indicated that the probability of European citizens being exposed to pesticide residue levels that could lead to negative health outcomes was low. Based on the analysis of the 2016 pesticide monitoring results, EFSA derived a number of recommendations to increase the efficiency of the European control systems to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

Residue analysis and dietary exposure risk assessment of tebufenozide in stem lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. angustana Irish)

Tebufenozide, a newly-developed nonsteroidal ecdysone agonist, is in pre-regulation phase (before approval for use) on stem lettuce in China. Aiming at the safe application of tebufenozide, the dissipation and terminal residue trials on stem lettuce were performed under good agricultural practice (GAP). The dissipation trials shown that tebufenozide was rapidly degraded in stem lettuce, with half-lives of 5.0–8.2 days. Pre-regulation dietary exposure risk assessments were evaluated to recommend maximum residue limits (MRLs) based on risk quotients (RQ) method. Relevant toxicological parameters including ADI (acceptable daily intake) and ARfD (acute reference dose) were applied to assess the potential dietary exposure risk. The results indicated the chronic dietary exposure risk probability (RQc) of tebufenozide ranged from 36.4% to 70.0%. The acute dietary exposure risk probability (RQa) of tebufenozide was 2.88%–8.49% in lettuce stems and 14.0%–20.0% in lettuce leaves, respectively. On the basis of supervised field trial data and dietary exposure risk assessment results, the MRLs of tebufenozide were recommended as 3 mg/kg for lettuce stems and 10 mg/kg for lettuce leaves, respectively. The results demonstrated that the dietary exposure risk of tebufenozide used in stem lettuce under GAP was negligible and would not pose unacceptable health risk to Chinese consumers.

A monitoring survey and dietary risk assessment for pesticide residues on peaches in China

The presence of pesticide residues in fruit has been of extensive concern worldwide. In this paper, pesticide residues in peach samples in China and their dietary exposure risks for the Chinese general population and children were evaluated. Thirty-nine different pesticides were detected, and 92.3% of samples contained one or more pesticide residues. The most frequently detected pesticide was carbendazim with a detection rate of 60.6%. Residues for eight pesticides in 3.2% of the samples exceeded their MRLs with the highest exceedance of 345%. The results demonstrated that the chronic dietary risks were extremely low for both the general population and children in China. Acute risks from carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, pyridaben and triazophos exposures for children and triazophos for the general population exceeded the acceptable level in the worst case scenario. Only %ARfD of triazophos exceeded 100 when intakes were calculated at the 97.5th percentile of residue level distribution. The risk scoring scheme showed nine pesticides that were considered to pose a higher risk. Different use suggestions for the 39 detected pesticides were proposed to protect the health of consumers. More strictly controlled management of banned pesticides and those suggested for gradually diminished use until banned is highly recommended.

Risk assessment of population exposure to toxic trace elements via consumption of vegetables and fruits grown in some mining areas of Armenia

ABSTRACTConsumption of unsafe food is one of the most important public health concerns. Trace elements’ contamination caused by direct or indirect activities of mining industries is of importance in this respect. The present study was conducted to assess the chronic dietary exposure and related health risks of trace elements through the intake of selected vegetables and fruits grown under the impact of mining industry in Syunik region (Armenia). Consumption data were obtained via food frequency questionnaire and the concentrations of Cu, Mo, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn, Hg, and Cd in different fruits and vegetables were determined. Moreover, by combining concentration data with consumption data, estimated daily intake, and target hazard quotient were assessed for each element. The results obtained showed that mean concentrations for Pb and Hg in some vegetables exceeded maximum acceptable levels set by international organizations. Hazard indexes > 1 have been obtained in some cases indicating that for some vegetables (particularly for potato, carrot, maize, onion leaf, grape, bean, beet, sweet pepper, eggplant, and tomato) habitual consumption has a potential to pose adverse health effect to the local population.

Pilot study on uncertainty analysis in EFSA Reasoned Opinions on the modification of pesticide maximum residue levels.

Applicability of the EFSA Scientific Committee revised draft Guidance on uncertainty in EFSA scientific assessment is tested in the context of an EFSA Reasoned Opinion on the modification of pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs). EFSA purchased services for the preparation of a non‐regulatory Evaluation Report with example non‐standard uncertainties related to a fictitious application for the modification of MRLs. The Evaluation Report was assessed by EFSA in the format of a Reasoned Opinion and case‐specific examples of non‐standard uncertainty in the acute and chronic dietary risk assessments were analysed. Methods were selected from the general framework outlined in the Scientific Committee draft Guidance in order to apply a relatively simple strategy that could be considered for use in a regulatory context. The individual non‐standard uncertainties were assessed by sensitivity analysis with iterative back‐calculation of the parameter values that would lead to exceedance of the toxicological reference value (exceedance limit calculation), and quantified by subjective probability estimation. Non‐standard uncertainties affecting the chronic risk assessment were quantified by subjective upper bound probability percentile estimation and the combined estimated non‐standard uncertainty calculated by probability bounds analysis. Probability bounds analysis provides a relatively simple approach for calculating the probability related to a combination of uncertainties. The draft Guidance was found to provide a comprehensive range of methods for uncertainty analysis. However, process‐specific guidelines and practical procedures may need to be developed in order to implement the uncertainty assessment framework in routine pesticide risk assessments. The uncertainty assessment is intended to provide additional information on how certain the conclusions of the risk assessment are and thereby support the risk‐based decision‐making process by enabling risk managers to take account of uncertainty. The outcome of the pilot study will inform the EFSA Scientific Committee Working Group on how to further tailor the draft Guidance on uncertainty for the needs of the EFSA panels and units.

Comprehensive estimate of the theoretical maximum daily intake of pesticide residues for chronic dietary risk assessment in Argentina

ABSTRACTA chronic dietary risk assessment for pesticide residues was conducted for four age groups of the Argentinian population following the procedure recommended by the WHO. The National Theoretical Maximum Daily Intake (NTMDI) for 308 pesticides was calculated for the first time, using the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) from several Argentinean regulations and food consumption data from a comprehensive National Nutrition and Health Survey. The risk was estimated by comparing the TMDI with the Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI) identified by various sources. Furthermore, for each of the compounds with a TMDI >65% of the ADI, a probabilistic analysis was conducted to quantify the probability of exceeding the ADI. In this study 27, 22, 10, and 6 active ingredients (a.i.) were estimated to exceed the 100% of the ADI for the different population groups: 6–23 month-old children, 2–5 year-old children, pregnant women, and 10–49 year-old women, respectively. Some of these ADI-exceeding compounds (carbofuran, diazinon, dichlorvos, dimethoate, oxydemeton-methyl and methyl bromide) were found in all four of these groups. Milk, apples, potatoes, and tomatoes were the foods that contributed most to the intake of these pesticides. The study is of primary importance for the improvement of risk assessment, regulations, and monitoring activities.

Risk assessment of pesticide residues in dietary intake of celery in China

ObjectiveResidue risk assessment of pesticides in celery was conducted to provide a scientific basis for agricultural regulation policies and working procedures. MethodsThree hundred samples from eight main growing regions in China were collected and pesticide residue analyses were performed using GC–MS/MS and LC-MS/MS methods. Both chronic and acute intake risk of pesticides were assessed. Furthermore, intake risk of each detected pesticide was ranked according to a predefined ranking matrix. Results(1) Out of these 300 samples, 175 were revealed to contain one or more pesticide residues. Twenty-five pesticides were identified in total, out of which, carbofuran was found to exceed the maximum residue limit. (2) Chronic and acute intake risks were evaluated and lie in between 0 and 1.80 and between 0.05 and 28.0 for these twenty-five pesticides, respectively. (3) Intake risk of individual pesticide was ranked; five pesticides, including avermectin, triazophos, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate oxygen, and carbofuran posed the highest risks. ConclusionPesticide residues were detected in more than 58% celery samples in our study. Most pesticides have a residue level lower than their maximum residue limit and pose low chronic and acute dietary intake risk. However, usage of some pesticides like carbofuran should be closely monitored and regulated in the future.

Strategies for dismissing dietary risks: insights from user-generated comments online

Communication around chronic dietary risks has proved challenging as dietary health risks are ostensibly met with attenuated perceptions of their likelihood and consequences. In this article, we examine the strategies that an online public use to negotiate risk messages from expert stakeholders that may be incongruent with their own position on a risk. Progressing from conceptualisations of amplification as laid out in the social amplification of risk framework, we are particularly interested in understanding whether and how amplifications of risk may be attributed towards other stakeholders. The article presents an analysis of comments posted on a website oriented to a British audience. These comments were left by members of the public in reply to two online media articles published in 2012 reporting on an epidemiological study carried out in the United States on the risks of red meat consumption. We found that the comments generally expressed resistance to the risk message, embodied in two main strategies. The first strategy was to discount the message itself by deploying rules of thumb that undermined the applicability of the general risk message to the particularities of the individual. The second strategy was to undermine the risks by casting doubt on the credibility of the message source. Together, these strategies allowed the commenters to argue that the risks and the process of communicating them resulted in an exaggerated picture. These findings highlight that by attributing amplification to others, further polarisation of risk views between stakeholders may occur. Thinking about amplification as an attribution provides a distinct and significant conceptual contribution to the study of incongruent risk responses.

How dietary risk assessment can guide risk management and food monitoring programmes: The approach and results of the French Observatory on Pesticide Residues (ANSES/ORP)

The French system for monitoring dietary exposure to pesticide residues and its scoring method are presented. This system aims both to assess acute and chronic risks to the general population and to identify food commodities and pesticides that need to be better monitored and/or regulated thanks to 6 priority levels. The method combines four chronic and acute dietary risk indicators based on the results of the most recent national monitoring programmes and maximum residue levels, in connection with individual and national food consumption data. The probability of exceeding the toxicological reference values was estimated for children and adults, for 522 pesticides and their metabolites. Food contributors were detailed and a minimum number of samples to be taken per food was proposed. The majority of the pesticides (87%) was scored at the lowest priority level 1. For pesticides classified in levels 2 to 5, there is a need to refine the assessment. The monitoring should also be extended to include newly authorised substances in levels 2 to 4. Carbendazim, dimethoate, dithiocarbamates and imazalil merit particular attention as they scored at level 6 and are frequently quantified in fruits and vegetables, meaning that risk managers should take corrective measures in order to ensure consumer safety.

Applicability of thresholds of toxicological concern in the chronic dietary risk assessment of transformation products of pesticide active substance

To establish the threshold of toxicological concern(TTC) approach and to apply it in the risk assessment of metabolites, degradation and reaction products of pirimicarb. TTC decision tree approach based on Cramer classification was established and Lazar software was used to predict the genotoxicity of the seven transformation products of pirimicarb, namely, R34836, R34885, R35140, R31805, R34865, R16210 and R16192. Dietary exposure in general population as well as in six age population groups was estimated by using data from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey and pirimicarb residue data from national chemical surveillance data in 2011. TTC decision tree approach was used for risk assessment and the exposure was compared with the corresponding TTC values. Of the seven transformations of pirimicarb active substance, namely, R34836, R34885, R35140, R31805, R34865, R16210 and R16192, the maximum dietary exposure of mean and large portion(P 97.5) were all belong to 2-6 age group. The mean exposures of the seven transformation products for 2-6 age group,were 0.0290, 0.0207, 0.0015, 0.0320, 0.0005, 0.6918 and 0.1274 µg/kg,respectively, and the corresponding P 97.5 exposures were 0.0817,0.0581,0.0042,0.0900,0.0014, 1.9459 and 0.3585 µg/kg. Besides, the mean and P 97.5 exposure of R16210 for 2-6 age group was the largest,which were 0.6918 and 1.9459 µg/kg, accounting for 46.12% and 129.73% of the TTC threshold,respectively. TTC decision tree approach is a useful tool for prior screening and primary risk assessment of the transformation products of pesticide active substance.

Masked Mycotoxins Are Efficiently Hydrolyzed by Human Colonic Microbiota Releasing Their Aglycones

Fusarium mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Fusarium spp. in cereals. Among them, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) are widespread worldwide contaminants of cereal commodities and are ranked as the most important chronic dietary risk factors. Their conjugates, known as masked mycotoxins, have been described but are still not accounted for in risk assessment studies. This study demonstrates for the first time that DON and ZEN are effectively deconjugated by the human colonic microbiota, releasing their toxic aglycones and generating yet unidentified catabolites. For this reason, masked mycotoxins should be considered when evaluating population exposure.

Development of a microcantilever-based immunosensing method for mycotoxin detection

Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, are presently considered as the most important chronic dietary risk factor, more than food additives or pesticide residues. Therefore, the serious health and economic consequences of mycotoxin contamination have created the need for rapid, sensitive, and reliable techniques to detect such dangerous molecules within foodstuffs.We here report on the development of an innovative immunosensing method for mycotoxin detection, based on antibody-immobilized microcantilever resonators, a promising label free biosensing technique. A considerable part of the work is devoted to show the effect on microcantilever resonance frequency of the composition of the incubation buffer, as well as of the washing and drying procedure. We show the feasibility of using microcantilever resonator arrays to effectively identify total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, at low concentrations (3ng/mL and less than 6ng/mL, respectively), with relatively low uncertainty (about 10%) and good reproducibility for the same target concentration. Furthermore, the developed immunosensing method shows a limited cross-reactivity to different mycotoxins, paving the way to a highly specific technique, able to identify different mycotoxins in the sample. To our knowledge, this work represents the first example in literature of successfully immunodetection of low concentrations of multiple mycotoxins by microcantilever resonator arrays.

Scientific Opinion on Evaluation of the Toxicological Relevance of Pesticide Metabolites for Dietary Risk Assessment

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asked the Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR) to develop an opinion on approaches to evaluate the toxicological relevance of metabolites and degradates of pesticide active substances in dietary risk assessment. This opinion identifies the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) concept as an appropriate screening tool. The TTC values for genotoxic and toxic compounds were found to be sufficiently conservative for chronic exposure, as a result of a validation study with a group of pesticides belonging to different chemical classes. Three critical steps were identified in the application of a TTC scheme: 1) the estimate of the level of the metabolite, 2) the evaluation of genotoxicity alerts and 3) the detection of neurotoxic metabolites. Tentative TTC values for acute exposure were established by the PPR Panel by analysis of the lowest 5th percentiles of No Observed Adverse Effect Levels (NOAELs) used to establish the Acute Reference Doses (ARfD) for the EFSA pesticide data set. Assessment schemes for chronic and acute dietary risk assessment of pesticide metabolites, using the TTC approach and combined (Q)SAR and read across, are proposed. The opinion also proposes how the risk assessment of pesticide metabolites that are stereoisomers should be addressed due to isomer ratio changes reflected in the composition of metabolites. The approach is ready for use, but it is anticipated that on many occasions the outcome of the assessment scheme will be that further testing is needed to reach a firm conclusion on the toxicological relevance of the metabolite. However, the benefit of applying the approach is that it will allow prioritisation of metabolites for subsequent testing. EFSA will develop a Guidance Document based on the results in this opinion.

경기도내 유통 과실류의 잔류농약 위해평가(2006~2010)

2006년부터 2010년까지 경기도내에서 유통되는 과실류 33품목에 대하여 잔류농약 모니터링을 수행하였다. 총 2,558건 중 431건(16.8%)에서 잔류농약이 검출되었으며, 12건(0.5%)에서 잔류허용기준(MRLs)을 초과하였다. 연간 검출률은 6.9~19.4%, 부적합률은 0.3~0.9%였다. 23품목에서 62종의 잔류농약이 검출되었고, 4품목에서 8종의 농약이 부적합 발생하였다. Chlorpyrifos의 검출빈도가 가장 높았다. 과실류 중 감귤류가 검출률과 부적합률 모두 가장 높았다. 검출빈도는 유기인계 농약이(35%) 가장 많았고, 용도별로는 살충제가(57%) 가장 많았다. 결정론적 만성식이위해평가 결과 위해도(%ADI)는 전국민 하한치와 상한치가 각각 0.0000~0.7526과 0.0000~1.3237이었고, 섭취자군에서는 각각 0.0006~9.7801과 0.0058~15.9528로 나타나 전국민과 섭취자군 모두에서 안전한 수준으로 나타났다. The monitoring of pesticide residues was performed on 33 fruit commodities collected in Gyeonggi-do, Korea from 2006 to 2010. Pesticide residues were detected in 431 samples (16.8%) of total 2,558 samples and violated in 12 samples (0.5%). Annual detection rate showed 6.9%~19.4% with the rate of violation of 0.3%~0.9%. Twenty three samples (69.7%) of 33 commodities were detected and 4 samples (12.1%) were violated. Eight pesticides (EPN, dicofol, carbaryl, procymidone, methidathion, prothiofos, fenitrothion and phenthoate) were violated and 62 pesticides were detected. Chloropyrifos was detected most frequently. The rate of detection and violation of citrus fruits in fruits showed the highest level. Organophosphorus pesticides (35%) and insecticide (57%) were detected most frequently. The hazard index (%ADI) of chronic dietary risk assessment by deterministic approach showed that the lower limit value and upper limit value for the whole population were 0.0000~0.7526 and 0.0000~1.3237 respectively. For the only consumer group, the lower limit value and upper limit value were 0.0006~9.7801 and 0.0058~15.9258 respectively. Therefore the hazard index for the whole population and the only consumer group were evaluated as a safe level.

Total diet study on pesticide residues in France: Levels in food as consumed and chronic dietary risk to consumers

Chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues was assessed for the French population using a total diet study (TDS) to take into account realistic levels in foods as consumed at home (table-ready). Three hundred and twenty-five pesticides and their transformation products, grouped into 283 pesticides according to their residue definition, were sought in 1235 composite samples corresponding to 194 individual food items that cover 90% of the adult and child diet. To make up the composite samples, about 19,000 food products were bought during different seasons from 2007 to 2009 in 36 French cities and prepared according to the food preparation practices recorded in the individual and national consumption survey (INCA2). The results showed that 37% of the samples contained one or more residues. Seventy-three pesticides were detected and 55 quantified at levels ranging from 0.003 to 8.7mg/kg. The most frequently detected pesticides, identified as monitoring priorities in 2006, were the post-harvest insecticides pirimiphos-methyl and chlorpyrifos-methyl—particularly in wheat-based products—together with chlorpyrifos, iprodione, carbendazim and imazalil, mainly in fruit and fruit juices. Dietary intakes were estimated for each subject of INCA2 survey, under two contamination scenarios to handle left-censored data: lower-bound scenario (LB) where undetected results were set to zero, and upper-bound (UB) scenario where undetected results were set to the detection limit. For 90% of the pesticides, exposure levels were below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) under the two scenarios. Under the LB scenario, which tends to underestimate exposure levels, only dimethoate intakes exceeded the ADI for high level consumers of cherry (0.6% of children and 0.4% of adults). This pesticide, authorised in Europe, and its metabolite were detected in both cherries and endives. Under the UB scenario, that overestimates exposure, a chronic risk could not be excluded for nine other pesticides (dithiocarbamates, ethoprophos, carbofuran, diazinon, methamidophos, disulfoton, dieldrin, endrin and heptachlor). For these pesticides, more sensitive analyses of the main food contributors are needed in order to refine exposure assessment.

Chronic dietary risk characterization for pesticide residues: A ranking and scoring method integrating agricultural uses and food contamination data

A method has been developed to identify pesticide residues and foodstuffs for inclusion in national monitoring programs with different priority levels. It combines two chronic dietary intake indicators: ATMDI based on maximum residue levels and agricultural uses, and EDI on food contamination data. The mean and 95th percentile of exposure were calculated for 490 substances using individual and national consumption data. The results show that mean ATMDI exceeds the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for 10% of the pesticides, and the mean upper-bound EDI is above the ADI for 1.8% of substances. A seven-level risk scale is presented for substances already analyzed in food in France and substances not currently sought. Of 336 substances analyzed, 70 pesticides of concern (levels 2–5) should be particularly monitored, 22 of which are priority pesticides (levels 4 and 5). Of 154 substances not sought, 36 pesticides of concern (levels 2–4) should be included in monitoring programs, including 8 priority pesticides (level 4). In order to refine exposure assessment, analytical improvements and developments are needed to lower the analytical limits for priority pesticide/commodity combinations. Developed nationally, this method could be applied at different geographic scales.

Degradation of Chlorpyrifos and Fipronil in Rice from Farm to Fork and Risk Assessment

Degradation of pesticide residues (chlorpyrifos and fipronil) in rice from farm to fork and risk assessment for human health were studied to reveal the magnitude of risks faced by different populations of interest, so that appropriate measures can be taken to control the risks, and to refine and update the human health risk assessment data while helping to determine the maximum residue level (MRL) value and harvest interval. Different dosages and treatments were used in field trials for the harvest residue test. Residue levels of postharvest-applied chlorpyrifos and fipronil during storage, exposure to sunlight, washing and boiling processes (boiled rice) were investigated for brown rice. The dietary exposure evaluation model (DEEM) was employed to estimate acute and chronic risks faced by different populations of interest. Percent of reference dose (POR) and margin of exposure (MOE) were calculated. A positive correlation between pesticide residues and the dosage and application frequency of pesticide was found in the field trials. Risk quotients indicate that multiple applications and double dosages of chlorpyrifos increase the risks to the entire population and prolong exposures to toxic concentrations. The concentration of pesticide residues decreased as a function of time, after sunlight exposure, storage, washing, and boiling processes. 91.6 and 96.16% degradations were achieved at the end of the experimental period for fipronil and chlorpyrifos, respectively. The boiling process played an important role in the degradation of these pesticides. The result of risk assessment to human health showed that harvest residues of chlorpyrifos in rice and acute dietary risks of chlopyrifos were of concern. The acute dietary (food only) risk estimated for chlorpyrifos as percent of acute population adjusted dose (aPAD) was frequently over 100%. The risk faced by boys under the age of 14 was higher than that for girls of the same age. For the subpopulation above age 14, the risk reversed. The chronic dietary risk from food alone showed that dietary exposures with fipronil were below the level of concern for the entire population, including children. The risk faced by rural residents was more serious than that for urbanite residents with the most sensitive populations being children and male residents who faced higher acute dietary risk than the other subpopulation groups. The harvest interval was found to be the critical measure to mitigate risk for all populations for safe rice eating. All risk levels decreased to acceptable levels when the harvest interval was extended to 14 d. To address these risks, a number of measures including reduced application rates (should not be doubled at single application), increased retreatment intervals (longer than 7 d) and extended interval of harvest (at least 14 d) will be needed. The MRL for fipronil in rice is recommended to be 0.01 mg kg −1 in accordance with Codex (ref).

Organophosphorus pesticide residues in Greek virgin olive oil: levels, dietary intake and risk assessment

The occurrence of organophosphorus pesticide (OPs) and their metabolite residues was investigated in 167 samples of Greek virgin olive oil during a 2-year (2004–2005) sampling campaign. A total of 30.5% of samples contained detectable residues, although only one sample contained dimethoate residues above the maximum residue limit. Among the seven detected OPs, fenthion and fenthion sulfoxide residues were detected in 10.8 and 14.4% of the samples, respectively, at levels of 0.003–0.61 mg kg−1. Dimethoate was detected in 10.2% of the samples at 0.003–0.057 mg kg−1. The acute dietary risk assessment was undertaken by determining the national estimated short-term intake (NESTI); for chronic dietary risk assessment, the national theoretical maximum daily intake (NTMDI) and national estimated daily intake (NEDI) were calculated. The estimated intakes (NESTI and NEDI) of each pesticide were <7 and <0.86% of the corresponding acute reference doses (ARfDs) and acceptable daily intakes (ADIs), respectively. A cumulative risk assessment was performed using the hazard index (HI) and toxicity equivalence factor (TEF), taking into account that OPs share the same toxicological mechanism. The determined HI and TEF values were found to represent only a small portion of the respective ADIs or ARfDs. These results indicate that there is neither acute nor chronic risk for the Greek population through olive oil consumption.

Chronic dietary risk for pesticide residues in food in Brazil: an update

The objective was to conduct a dietary risk assessment of pesticides registered in Brazil up to 14 January 2004. The theoretical maximum daily intake (TMDI) was calculated for 275 compounds using the Brazilian maximum residue limits (MRL) and food consumption. The chronic dietary risk assessment was conducted by comparing the TMDI with the Brazilian acceptable daily intake (ADI) or, when not available, with the ADI from other sources. The TMDI was higher than the ADI (%ADI>100) in at least one Brazilian region for eight pesticides, including five organophosphorus insecticides. For these compounds, the higher TMDI (expressed as %ADI) ranged from 140 (metam sodium) to 14 000 (methyl bromide). Rice, beans, citrus and tomato were the commodities that contributed most to ingestion. Change in pesticide use patterns and the establishment of ADIs by the Brazilian government have reduced the number of compounds for which the TMDI exceeded the ADI in the last 4 years. Risk assessment methodology based on TMDI calculation, however, is conservative as it assumes that the food supply is always treated with all the registered pesticides for that crop and that one always consumes food containing residues at the tolerance level. Furthermore, for six compounds with TMDI exceeding the ADI, a more realistic estimation of the pesticide daily intake was conducted using monitoring residue data from the Brazilian National Pesticide Residue Program. For these compounds, the higher refined intakes ranged from 2% (dimethoate) to 180% (fenitrothion) of the ADIs. The implementation of a national pesticide residue monitoring programme by the government was important to allow the refinement of the risk assessment. However, adequate daily food consumption data are still needed to assess better the public health risk to Brazilian consumers from food produced from crops treated with pesticides.