Concentrations Of Pesticide Residues Research Articles

METHOD OF SUBSTANDARD PESTICIDES UTILIZATION

The article is devoted to topical issues of utilization of unusable pesticides buried and stored in toxic waste landfills on the territory of the Russian Federation.Aim and objectives are analysis of sub-standard pesticides handling in the Russian Federation and development of a method of their utilization to obtain components for chemical production.The materials for the study were unusable pesticides.The sources of information were official documents containing analytical information on the quality of the natural environment (Annual State Reports on the State of the Natural Envi-ronment in the Subjects of the Russian Federation) and generalized results of thesurvey of Russian soils for the content of pesticide residues in them (Yearbooks «State of Pesticide Contamination of Natural Environmental Objects of the Russian Federation»).The paper analyzes the amount of unusable pesticides currently stored in the Russian Federation on the basis of official data.The qualitative composition of pesticides requiring utilization and stored in warehouses and landfills of the Russian Federation is considered.The principal scheme of utilization of unusable pesticides with obtaining components for chemical production, which can be used as secondary raw materials, is proposed.

Application of solid-phase microextraction and LCMS/MS for the detection of pesticide residues

Aiming at the organophosphorus pesticide residues in tea, a method integrating solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was investigated for the detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues in tea. Firstly, the conditions in the process were optimized; then the method was established to analyze the organophosphorus pesticides in tea; finally, the method feasibility was verified by using actual sample determination. In terms of the results, the standard curve correlation coefficients of the solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods used in the study were greater than 0.99, while the average recoveries ranged from 72 to 109% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 9.0%. This indicates that the method has a good linear range, low detection limit and high recovery. In the application validation in real samples, the concentrations of organophosphorus pesticide residues in tea were within the safe range. The method was validated to be suitable for the monitoring and control of organophosphorus pesticide residues in tea with low cost and simplified sample preparation.

Seasonal screening of pesticide residues in beehive products collected from different districts in Egypt

Pesticides are of immense importance in agriculture, but they might contaminate bees’ products. In this study, samples of honey, pollen, and beeswax were collected, seasonally, from apiaries in Toshka (Aswan), El-Noubariya (El-Beheira), and Ismailia (Ismailia) cities in Egypt. The pesticide residues were analyzed using the GC-MS after being extracted and cleaned using the QuEChERS method. Results showed that samples from El-Noubariya had great content of residues followed by Ismailia, and finally Toshka. Samples collected during fall and winter had the highest pesticide residue contents. Specifically, the phenylconazole fungicide group was repeatedly detected in all the examined samples along with organophosphate insecticides. Beeswax samples had the greatest amounts of pesticide residues followed by pollen and then honey samples. Chlorpyrifos (0.07–39.16 ng/g) and profenofos (1.94–17.00 ng/g) were detected in honey samples and their products. Pyriproxyfen (57.12 ng/g) and chlorpyrifos-methyl (39.16 ng/g) were detected in great amounts in beeswax samples from Ismailia and El-Noubariya, respectively. Yet, according to health hazard and quotient studies, the amounts of pesticides detected in honey do not pose any health threats to humans.

Determination of pesticide residue content in fruits and vegetables from Lagos, Nigeria.

Developing countries like Nigeria are increasingly employing pesticides to boost the productivity of their agriculture and food supply, despite the fact that doing so poses a health risk to the general populace. The purpose of this study was to assess pesticide residue levels in Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 18 samples from three neighbourhood markets were collected, and they were then examined for the presence of organochlorine (Endosulfan I, Pentachlorophenol, Heptachlor epoxide, and Endosulfan II) and organophosphate (Dichlorvos, Dimethoate, Phorate, and methyl parathion) residues. During the pre-treatment, the multi-residue Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS citrate) method with the addition of acetonitrile was used, and then samples were analysed using GC-MS. All of the samples contained dichlorvos, but the orange sample's concentration was below the limit of quantification, making quantification impossible. Dimethoate concentrations were below MRLs except waterleaf sample. With a concentration of 0.043 μg/mL, Waterleaf had the highest quantity of dimethoate in the sample. The findings of this study indicate that in order to safeguard the health of consumers, it is necessary to closely monitor organochlorine and organophosphate use nationwide, along with other related pesticides, and to test for pesticide residues in food products.

Biochemical Response of the Endogeic Earthworm (Balanteodrilus extremus) Exposed to Tropical Soils

This work evaluated the biochemical responses of the endogeic earthworm Balanteodrilus extremus exposed for 14 and 48 days (d) to soils collected from two tropical agricultural systems: maize-sorghum (MS) and soybean-sorghum (SS). A soil without agricultural management (WAM) and the use of pesticides was selected as a reference. The presence of organochlorine (OC) and organophosphate (OP) pesticide residues was quantified in MS and SS soils. Biomarkers of detoxification [glutathione S transferase (GST)], neurotoxicity [acetylcholinesterase (AChE)] and oxidative stress [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipoperoxidation (LPO)] were evaluated in B. extremus. The concentration of OP pesticide residues was higher in SS than in MS. Activity of AChE in B. extremus exposed to SS soil for 14 d was significantly more inhibited (78%) than in MS soil (68%). B. extremus has been shown to be a good bioindicator of contaminated soils in tropical regions.

Comparative analyses of pesticide residues, elemental composition and mycotoxin levels in Spanish traditional and novel ciders

The apple cultivar, known for its adaptability and diverse varieties, has been extensively utilized for cider production, particularly in climatically suitable regions. Cider, an age-old alcoholic beverage derived from fermenting apple juice, is gaining popularity, especially among younger generations. Despite this trend, comprehensive knowledge regarding the toxicological profile of ciders remains limited, leaving room for potential chemical contaminants from raw ingredients or production methods. To address this gap, we conducted an unprecedented study analyzing sixty-eight cider samples from the Spanish market, encompassing both traditional ciders and newly developed apple-based flavored drinks referred to as “ciders.” Our investigation focused on pesticide residues, elemental profiles, and mycotoxin residues. In a groundbreaking approach, our study integrated the analysis of 225 pesticide residues, 50 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), 11 mycotoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, DON, FB1, FB2, H-2, HT-2, OTA, PAT, and ZEN), and a total of 50 elements. Pesticide residues were identified using GCMSMS and LCMSMS, elemental composition determined via ICPMS, and mycotoxins analyzed using LCMSMS. The significance of our research lies in addressing the dearth of toxicological analyses of ciders, despite their burgeoning global consumption and production. For pesticide residues and elemental composition, our results underwent statistical processing, revealing distinct differences between the elemental profiles of traditional ciders and “ciders.” Additionally, disparities were observed between cider and other low-alcohol fermented beverages like wines and beers. Concentrations of most pesticide residues and elements in the cider samples were deemed non-toxic, falling below allowable limits established by international organizations for other beverages such as water or wine. However, certain elements, notably Br and Pb in traditional ciders, raised potential concerns. Our findings underscore the necessity of establishing regulatory limits for pesticide residues, potentially hazardous elements, and mycotoxins in cider, a regulatory framework currently lacking on a global scale.

Polyaniline-coated kapok fibers for convenient in-syringe solid-phase microextraction and determination of organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticide residues in aqueous samples

Pesticides used in agriculture have low polarity and a tendency to accumulate in fatty tissues, posing potential risks to human health. Effective pre-treatment is crucial due to complex sample matrices and low concentrations of pesticide residues typically encountered in instrument analysis. In this study, polyaniline-coated kapok fiber (PANI-KF) was synthesized successfully using in-situ oxidative polymerization for use as sorbents in in-syringe SPME of pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from aqueous samples. Coating the natural KF with PANI maintained the hollow microtubular structure and fiber morphology while significantly enhancing the extraction efficiency. The extraction process was easily conducted by simply pulling and pushing the syringe plunger. The entire extraction process, utilizing 3 mg of PANI-KF, could be completed in approximately 3 min. Density functional theory results indicated that the adsorption mechanism of PANI-KF towards OCPs and PYRs mainly involved van der Waals interactions, π-π interactions, and weak hydrogen bonding interactions. With the coupling of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a quantification method was established that exhibited good linearities (R2 > 0.990), and relative recoveries (87.2–108.5 %). The limits of detection ranged from 0.4 to 2.0 ng mL−1 and the matrix effects were negligible (−12.3–16.4 %). The validated in-syringe SPME-GC-MS method was successfully applied to determine pesticide residues in fruit juices, oral liquids and herbal extract granules with satisfactory accuracy and precision. PANI-KF exhibits remarkable promise as a sorbent for the extraction and enrichment of pesticide residues in aqueous samples, thereby contributing to the advancement of pesticide residue determination methodologies.

Pesticide Residues and Associated Public Health Risks in Vegetables from Irrigated Farms Adjacent to Rift Valley Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

The overuse of pesticides has resulted in the accumulation of harmful residues in vegetables, which requires monitoring to assess the risks to human health. This article presents the levels of 35 pesticide residues in 15 composite vegetable samples from irrigated farmlands adjacent to Lake Ziway, Ethiopia, using the QuEChERS extraction method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) and then analyzes them using GC-MS. The study also estimated the health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated vegetables in children and adults, including carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks. The predominant pesticide residues found in tomatoes were α-endosulfan (0.58 mg/kg), β-BHC (0.04 mg/kg), heptachlor (0.02 mg/kg), and malathion (0.03 mg/kg), all of which were above the safety limits. Similarly, the mean concentration of heptachlor epoxide (0.04 mg/kg) and propargite (0.11 mg/kg) was higher than the allowed levels of the safety limits for onions. The concentration of pesticide residues detected in 10.6% and 7.9% of tomato and onion samples was above the maximum residual limits of the European Commission (EU-MRLs), respectively. Noncarcinogenic health risk estimates show that onion heptachlor epoxide had THQ > 1, indicating the possibility of systemic health risk in both adult and child consumers. The carcinogenic health risk (CHR) showed that heptachlor epoxide in adults and children and only heptachlor in children had CHR > acceptable limit (10−4) for tomato and onion. Therefore, it is critical to raise awareness among stakeholders while simultaneously implementing sound monitoring policy actions to protect the ecosystem and the health of the population in the study area and beyond.

One step cleanup of 160 pesticides and veterinary drugs in aquatic products using melamine-based automatic pressure filtration purification method combined with HPLC-MS/MS

A 15-channel pressure filtration purification method was presented for high throughput sample preparation of aquatic products. A cost-effective device was constructed and melamine sponge was selected as the cleanup sorbent. Upon interfacing with HPLC-MS/MS, the analytical procedure demonstrated its suitability for quantifying 160 pesticides and veterinary drug residues in aquatic products such as fish, shrimp, and crab. The method achieved sample recoveries ranging from 61.3 to 124.9 %. The detection limits were established between 0.5 and 1.0 μg/kg, while the quantitation limits were confirmed to be within the range of 1.0–2.0 μg/kg. The method was applied to quantify the pesticide and veterinary drug residues in mostly consumed aquatic products from five coastal provinces in China. The results showed significant differences between different aquatic products in the concentrations of pesticide and veterinary drug residues, implying the necessity of supervision for the accurate determination of pesticides and veterinary drugs.

Kinetics of the dissipation of azoxystrobin, quizalofop-p-ethyl, fluazifop-p-butyl and clomazone in fermented legume seeds

In this study, four plant matrices, including soybean, chickpea, pea, and lens, underwent fermentation by Bacillus subtilis var. natto. Then, the process influence on the content of four pesticides (clomazone, azoxystrobin, fluazifop-p-butyl, and quizalofop-p-ethyl) was evaluated, depending on the fermentation length. Fermentation was conducted for 312 h in controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity (37 °C, 75%). The pesticide residue content in fermented seeds was assessed with the QuEChERS multiresidue method, combined with gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The studies demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis can biodegrade pesticides in legume seeds, with those microorganisms having a greater potential to degrade herbicides, especially fluazifop-p-butyl, and quizalofop-p-ethyl, than azoxystrobin and clomazone. The highest pesticide degradation occurred during first hours of fermentation. The quizalofop-p-ethyl and fluazifop-p-butyl levels reached < 0.02 mg/kg in nearly all studied seeds already after 48 h. At the end of fermentation (after 312 h), the azoxystrobin and clomazone levels ranged from 0.0203 mg/kg (soybean) to 0.0475 mg/kg (lens) and from 0.001 mg/kg (chickpeas) to 0.0753 mg/kg (lens), respectively. In all studied plant matrices, levels of pesticide residues were below the established MRLs, with clomazone being the sole exception.

Assessment of Bee Honey in some Districts in South-Western Nigeria for Agricultural Pesticide Residues and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Purpose: Honey are produced by honeybees which are expected to be free from contaminants or pollutants in the environment. But different degrees of anthropogenic activities in regions where apiaries domiciles have raised issues of primary health importance because of the increasing contents of pesticide residues, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other related hydrocarbon compounds in honey. Osun State is an agrarian state where agricultural herbicides and insecticides are used. The study focused on organophosphate and organochlorine compounds and PAHs. Research Method: Honey samples sourced from selected zones in Osun State, were screened for organophosphate, organochlorine compounds, PAHs as well as other related hydrocarbon compounds using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Finding: There were no traces of highlighted pesticide residues except for PAHs and other related compounds. Ninety-two PAHs and other related hydrocarbon compounds were identified. The number of PAHs and related compounds per sample ranged from 9 to 35. While Cyclohexane, Decodane and Naphthalene were the most common with higher concentrations in all the samples. The Mn±S.D values of Cyclohexane, Naphthalene and Decodane obtained were 0.2976±0.1253µgkg-1, 0.471±0.119µgkg-1, and 12.516±3.120µgkg-1 respectively. Other PAHs and other related hydrocarbon compounds identified had insignificant concentrations. Originality/value: The study recommends that bee farmers should locate their apiaries 3km to 5km away from regions where there are serious hazardous anthropogenic activities including industrial areas. Also, there is need for strong understanding between the bee farmers and crop farmers on tolerable uses of agricultural pesticides, and herbicides on field crops during the flower bloom period where there are no options. Lastly, harvested honey should undergo quality assurance and control for safety reasons. All packaged honey for retail should bear labels including the compositions after quality analysis.

Effects of combined nutrient and pesticide exposure on algal biomass, and Daphnia magna abundance

Fertilisers and pesticides are increasingly used in agriculture to improve productivity and protect crops from fungi and insects. However, these farm inputs may lead to adverse effects on aquatic biodiversity through eutrophication and pesticide toxicity. This study aimed to establish the effects of nutrient-only, pesticide-only, combined nutrients and pesticides, and control on the abundance of Daphnia magna, and algal biomass. In each of the treatments, different concentrations of nutrients and pesticides residues were added separately or in combination. Responses were measured every 24 h, and the experiments ended after 168 h of exposure. The experiment was set in four concentration treatments comprising high, moderately high, moderately low, and low concentrations. Data analysis was done using Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and ANOVA to determine the effect of time, concentrations and the interaction of time and concentrations for each of the treatments on D. magna abundance, and algal biomass. Higher concentrations of pesticide additives were associated with lower abundance of D. magna, and higher algal biomass over the exposure periods. There was a significant reduction in the abundance of D. magna in the combined treatment indicating the toxic effect of pesticide addition. Determination of effect concentrations based on combined nutrients-pesticides experiments becomes important in setting water quality standards, and monitoring the quality status, to avoid underestimating the ecological implications of combined contamination.

Avaliação da modulação do manejo integrado de pragas para mitigação de resíduos de pesticidas em manga

ABSTRACT The increase of pesticide residues in food is extremely dangerous for humans. This research aimed to determine the concentrations of left-over pesticides residues on mangoes after they were exposed to pesticide residue mitigation modules (PRMM). Among these, four modules were used as candidate for integrated pest management approaches, while the fifth was traditional and served as a control. Residues of the lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, indoxacarb, imidacloprid, pyriproxyfen, acetamiprid, buprofezin and chlorpyrifos pesticides were assessed from mangoes taken from orchards. The QuEChERS technique was used to extract the residue samples and the GC-MS for their quantification. A significant increase in the percentage of contaminated samples was recorded during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons. Samples belonging to PRMM-I showed 16.67 % (2019-2020) and 25.29 % (2020-2021) of contamination over the control. The samples collected during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 from PRMM-II showed, respectively, 58.13 and 53.13 % of contamination. During 2020-2021, 66.67 and 67.00 % of the samples were contaminated for PRMM-III and PRMM-IV, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 88.37 to 99.02 %, with 1.07 to 3.97 % relative standard deviation, for all samples, in both seasons. PRMM-IV showed a greater contamination than the other modules and the control.

Formula model established through field application of glass slides and rapid analysis of pesticide residues in vegetables by ion mobility spectrometry

The prevalence of pesticide usage has brought the matter of pesticide residues to the forefront, necessitating the development of effective detection methods as a crucial step towards addressing this issue. This study presents a novel approach for detecting pesticide residues in vegetables using glass slide-formula-ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The approach enables swift analysis of 36 different pesticides across three vegetable species with glass slides. To establish a formula for calculating pesticide residues in vegetables using glass slides, the vegetable samples and glass slides were placed in a spray tower and evenly sprayed pesticides. The per unit area of glass slides was used to calculate the pesticide loading capacity and total pesticide loading area of vegetables. The original residues were analyzed with ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The field experiment yielded consistent results between the model values of the formula and the actual measured values, with correlation coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.927 to 0.983. The slide-formula model-IMS method was found to be effective for field applications, as it proved to be simple, rapid, and accurate in predicting pesticide residue concentrations in vegetable samples. This approach could be a valuable tool for monitoring pesticide residues in vegetable cultivation globally.

PESTICIDE RESIDUE SCREENING IN CITRUS FRUITS BASED ON GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT

Lately, there is maximum concern in most states, all over the world, regarding the levels of pesticide residues in food products, considering their chemical properties with direct implications on human health. Many studies have shown that the adverse effects of cumulative exposure to multiple pesticide residues are far more severe than any single exposure. Statistically, the number of food alerts generated by the presence of pesticide residues in fruits on the market, between 2017 and 2021, as well as the situation related to the number of imports and intra-EU trade that took place during the same period was highlighted. This study aims to analyze pesticide residue levels in citrus fruits (i.e., lemons, grapefruit, and orange) imported from non-EU and EU countries, comparative with maximum residue limits (MRLs) provided by Regulation 2005/396/EC, to assess if intake levels pose a long-term risk to human health. The citrus samples collected from ten markets (retail and storage areas) in Romania, were prepared according to the procedure provided by EN 15662:2008 standard. The concentration of pesticide residues from citrus samples was determined by Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The results obtained by GC-MS/MS showed that from 52 citrus samples, 41 samples contained pesticide residues with values between 0.005 and 2.700 mg/kg, and several samples contained forbidden active substances (e.g., spirodiclofen and o-phenylphenol). The pesticide detection rate of the samples was 78.84%. The most frequently detected pesticides according to obtained results were imazalil, thiabendazole, pyrimethanil, pyraclostrobin, fludioxonil, as well as spirodiclofen and o-phenylphenol. The samples with the most detected active substances are from imports outside of the European Union. In addition, in several samples, simultaneously occurred four or even five mixed pesticide residues, hazardous to human health. This study shows that the presence of pesticide residues is constant in citrus fruits due to phytosanitary treatments carried out on crops in the development phase as well as on fruits in the storage phase treatments (e.g. insecticides, fungicides, etc.).

Efficiency of Some Chemical Reagents with Ultrafiltration System in the treatment of Abattoir Wastewater

The study seeks to evaluate the concentration of some toxicants in abattoir wastewater prior to treatment and after treatment using ultrafiltration system. Samples of water were gathered from the reservoir of wastewater in the Gwagwalada abattoir, Abuja, Nigeria without treatment and labelled S1. Some of the water was subjected to treatment using Chlorine + Alum + Lime (S2), another with Chlorine + Alum + Lime + Activated carbon (S3). Physico-chemical parameters such as: pH, colour, nitrates etc. were analyzed. Trace metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, Co and Cd) levels in the water samples were investigated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Concentration of pesticide residues (μg/L), antibiotics and bacterial growth were also evaluated. The S1, S2 and S3 nitrate concentrations were 271.20, 22.40 and 26.57 mg/L respectively. Level of Zinc, Copper and Lead in the trio samples investigated were within the range 0.14 to 0.24 mg/L, 0.15 to 0.24 mg/L and 0.06 to 0.17 mg/L respectively. Dichlorvos, Lambda-cyhalothrin and Chlorpyrifos were found in the 3 water samples in varying concentration. Only sample S1 shows microbial growth of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., and Shigella spp. at 52.00 ± 8.49, 58.00±31.11, &gt;100 and 10.50 ±0.71 CFU/100ml respectively. In S1, 0.05 μg/L of oxytetracycline and 0.34 μg/ of levofloxacin were found. This study has shown that treating wastewater from the abattoir using ultrafiltration method with some reagents such as Chlorine, Alum, Lime and Activated Carbon can help in removing toxicants and purify it before releasing it into the environment.

Effect of Application with Fungicide Fortin Pro 25 WP on Nutrients Content in Okra Fruits

Okra fruit systemicity and fungicide residues from Fortin Pro25WP were the focus of a field study done by the College of Agriculture at the University of Kufa in the years 2021 and 2022 AD. Treatment effects on okra fruit levels of the fungicides’ active ingredients were statistically significant (P0.05) for both propamocarb hydrochloride (ug/g) and metalaxyl (ug/g). The highest levels of the pesticide were found in the pesticide-only treatment, the next highest levels were found in the fungicide Fortin Pro + the bacteria A. chroococcum that contains the substance, and the lowest average levels were found in the bacteria A. chroococcum + Fortin Pro + R. solani treatment. The highest concentration occurred within the first hour after application, whereas the lowest occurred nine days later, at a concentration of 2.73 ug/g. On day nine of A. chroococcum + Fortin Pro + R. solani treatment, the pesticide residue content was the lowest. When applied to a plant that had not been inoculated with the pathogenic fungus, the fungicide Fortin Pro 25WP significantly increased the nitrogen content of the fruits. However, when applied to a plant that had been inoculated with the fungus, the fungicide significantly decreased the percentage of nitrogen (1.91%) in the fruits. In the fungicide treatment alone (without the pathogen), the fruit recorded the highest rate of phosphorus and potassium content, which was also significantly different from the fruit of the other treatments. Also, in the presence of Azotobacter chroococcum, the interaction treatment of Fortin Pro + R. solani yielded a fruit potassium percentage that was much lower than the control.

Establishment of a modified QuEChERS extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for multiple pesticide residues followed by determination of the residue levels and exposure assessment in livestock urine

The establishment of an analytical method for pesticide residues in livestock urine can realize the real-time monitoring of pesticide pollution in livestock breeding. In this study, a novel method was developed for the determination of 106 pesticide residues in livestock urine based on a modified QuEChERS extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Acetonitrile was used to extract target analytes through acidic and alkaline switching of the sample environment. The purification effect of captiva EMR-Lipid on samples was investigated. Three kinds of materials, C18, polar enhanced polymer (PEP), N-propylethylenediamine (PSA), were selected from 20 kinds of materials as adsorbents for QuEChERS. A mass analysis was carried out using simultaneous scanning in both positive and negative ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring mode. All analytes showed good linearity, with correlation coefficients (R2) greater than 0.9923; their limits of quantification were 0.02–1.95 ng/mL. The average recoveries at low, medium, and high spiked levels were in the range of 70.1 %–117.3 %, with intra-day precision ranging from 3.4 % to 16.9 % and inter-day precision ranging from 4.0 % to 19.3 %. The established analytical method was used to analyze the pesticide residue in swine urine and bovine urine collected from farms in Yining, Xinjiang, China. A total of 8 pesticides were detected, and the residue ranged from less than the limit of quantitation to 22.4 ng/mL. The top three pesticides with the highest detection frequency were clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran. The exposure assessment based on the monitored pesticide residue concentration levels showed that the detected pesticides could pose little risk to cattle and pigs.

Associations between dietary pesticide residue mixture exposure and mortality in a population-based prospective cohort of men and women

BackgroundThere is a concern that pesticide residues, regularly detected in foods, might pose a health risk to the consumer, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We assessed the associations between dietary exposure to a mixture of pesticide residues and mortality. MethodsFood consumption was assessed in 68,844 participants from the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, 45–83 years at baseline (1997). Concentrations of pesticide residues detected in foods on the Swedish market (1996–1998), mainly fruits and vegetables, were obtained via monitoring programs. To assess mixture effects, we summed per food item the ratios of each single pesticide mean residue concentration divided by its acceptable daily intake to create for each participant a Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index (adjusted for energy intake and expressed per kilogram of body weight). Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI). ResultsDuring 15 years of follow-up (1998–2014), a total of 16,527 deaths occurred, of which 6,238 were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 5,364 by cancer. Comparing extreme quintiles of Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index, the highest category was inversely associated with CVD mortality HR, 0.82 (95 % CI, 0.75–0.90) and with cancer mortality HR 0.82 (95 % CI 0.75–0.91). In analyses stratified by high/low Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index, similar inverse associations were observed by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. ConclusionsWe observed no indications that dietary exposure to pesticide residue mixtures was associated with increased mortality, nor any clear indications that the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption on mortality was compromised. Yet, our results need to be interpreted with caution.

Evaluation of pesticide residues in selected vegetables from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using modified QuEChERS and assessment of washing methods

Growing population in Malaysia has resulted in increased production of local vegetables as well as pesticide usage. This constitutes a health risk to human health. In the present work, the level of ten pesticide residues namely chlorpyrifos, profenofos, aldrin, endrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, carbendazim, propamocarb, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam in ten types of vegetables collected from six local markets were measured using modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Results showed that 13.3% samples contained pesticide residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL) prescribed by the Malaysian Food Regulations 1985, 55.0% of samples contained pesticide residues below the MRL, and no pesticide residues were detected in 31.7% of samples. Carbendazim and chlorpyrifos were among the highest pesticides detected in the samples. For the type of vegetables, kale and spinach contained high concentrations of pesticide residues above the MRL. In order to produce safe vegetables, the efficiency of different washing methods (tap water, 10% sodium bicarbonate solution, and 10% acetic acid solution) in reducing carbendazim and chlorpyrifos residues in a kale model system was evaluated. Results showed that the levels of carbendazim and chlorpyrifos reduction for all three methods were significantly different (p &lt; 0.05) with 10% acetic acid solution being the most effective followed by 10% sodium bicarbonate solution, and tap water. Washing kale with 10% acetic acid reduced 76.0 and 41.2% of carbendazim and chlorpyrifos, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended for consumers to practice 10% sodium bicarbonate washing method by soaking vegetables with an acidic solution followed by rinsing with tap water to reduce pesticide residues, and minimise the exposure to hazardous pesticides.