Pesticide Residues In Vegetables Research Articles

Cu-C3N4 nanoenzyme-based freezing-dried bioactive capsule integrated with 3D-printed smartphone platform for visual detection of organophosphorus pesticides paraoxon in scallion

Rapid detection of pesticide residues in vegetables has recently attracted much attention. Herein, a Cu-modified graphitic carbon nitride nanomaterial (Cu-C3N4) with peroxidase (POD)-like property was synthesized to construct an enzyme-based colorimetric sensing platform for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides paraoxon. Cu-C3N4 could catalyze H2O2 produced by reaction of acetylcholine with acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase, and then further oxidized 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce a blue colored product. Presence of organophosphorus pesticide paraoxon (PA) restrained the activity of acetylcholinesterase AChE, triggering a remarkably decreased amount of H2O2 towards TMB oxidation, which led to the inhibition of oxidation reaction. After that, the reaction solutions were freeze-dried in a portable bioactive capsule with addition of trehalose as stabilizer for improved enzymes activities. On the basis of the variation in gray-scale values of blue colored TMB solutions using an application, a smartphone-based 3D printing platform was obtained with a linear range from 100 to 33,000 nM (R2 =0.994) and a detection limit of 13 nM (3σ/k). This smartphone-based 3D-printed colorimetric platform combined with a bioactive capsule offers a novel approach with the potential for rapid detection of PA in vegetables.

Development of a fluorescent sensor based on TPE-Fc and GSH-AuNCs for the detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetables

A novel dual-signal fluorescent sensor was developed for detecting organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). It relies on the catalytic activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline oxidase (ChOx) to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through the conversion of acetylcholine (ACh) to choline·H2O2 then oxidizes ferrocene-modified tetraphenylethylene (TPE-Fc) to its oxidized state (TPE-Fc+), resulting in enhanced cyan fluorescence due to aggregation. Simultaneously, ferrocene oxidation generates hydroxyl radicals (•OH), causing a decrease in orange fluorescence of glutathione-synthesized gold nanoclusters (GSH-AuNCs). The presence of OPs restricts AChE activity, reducing H2O2 production. Increasing OPs concentration leads to decreased cyan fluorescence and increased orange fluorescence, enabling visual OPs detection. The sensor has a linear dynamic range of 10–2000 ng/mL with a detection limit of 2.05 ng/mL. Smartphone-based color identification and a WeChat mini program were utilized for rapid OPs analysis with successful outcomes.

Pesticide overuse in vegetable production: a case study of urban agriculture in city x, China

With the improvement in the living standard and enhancement of awareness of environmental protection by urban residents, food safety issues of vegetables, especially pesticide residues in vegetables, have gradually become an area of focus. According to previous investigations, the problems of pesticide overuse in vegetable production in City X, a typical metropolis of northern China, cannot be underestimated. To figure out the status quo and extent of pesticide overuse in China’s urban vegetable production, City X was taken as a research case. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to make an economic assessment of whether pesticides are overused in vegetable production in City X. The study was conducted based on panel data of the inputs and outputs of five kinds of vegetable crops commonly planted in City X from 1990 to 2018. The economic assessment of whether pesticides are overused depends on an accurate estimation of the marginal productivity of pesticides. As we all know, pesticides cannot directly increase crop yields but reduce yield losses by inhibiting pests and diseases and reducing weeds. Therefore, regarding pesticides same as other input factors and introducing them directly into the Cobb-Douglas production function would lead to an inaccurate estimation of the marginal productivity of pesticides. Thus, we adopted a damage control model distributed in exponential and Weibull forms on the basis of the C-D production function to estimate the marginal productivity of pesticides with the NLS method. Subsequently, we calculated the optimal levels of pesticide inputs and evaluated the extent of pesticide overuse for tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and cabbages cultivated in open-field and greenhouse systems respectively. We found that the marginal productivity of pesticides was close to 0, indicating that pesticide overuse issues on vegetable crops in City X have been extremely serious ever since the 1990s. We also discovered that 100% of our samples suffered excessive pesticide application, and the average pesticide input level was 21.5 to 27.9 times higher than the optimal level. Among the five vegetable crops, the pesticide overuse in tomatoes was the most serious, with actual pesticide input of 2714 yuan/hectare, which was 26.8 to 35.2 times the optimal level. While the extent of pesticide overuse was the slightest for cabbages with 9.7 to 12.8 times the optimal level. Besides, the degree of pesticide overuse for greenhouse vegetables was 55% higher than that of open-field vegetables. Fortunately, our findings suggest that with the implementation of Pesticides Reduction policies in China, the pesticide overuse issue in the vegetable industry in City X, although still grim, has been alleviated. The introduction and application of policies such as unified control, green prevention and control, monitoring, and forewarning have played a great role. With the further refinement and implementation of relevant policies in the vegetable industry, the excessive use of pesticides will be further controlled. Finally, possible policy measures are proposed to ensure the sustainable development of the urban vegetable industry, such as enhancing the publicity and service level of the unified prevention and control policy, utilizing urban agricultural big data, promoting scientific pesticide use knowledge, and new prevention and control technologies by new media, and increasing investment in the R&D of new technologies and new pesticides.

Health risk assessment of pesticide residues in vegetables collected from Dakahlia, Egypt

Health risk assessment of pesticide residues in vegetables collected from Dakahlia, Egypt

Human biomonitoring of inorganic elements in a representative sample of the general population from Cape Verde: Results from the PERVEMAC-II study

Inorganic elements such as heavy metals and other potentially toxic elements are frequently detected in humans. The aim of the present study was to analyze the blood concentrations of 49 inorganic elements in a cohort of 401 subjects from Cape Verde. The study was performed in the frame of the Pesticide Residues in Vegetables of the Macaronesia project (PERVEMAC-II). Concentration of inorganic elements, including elements in the ATSDR's priority pollutant list and rare earth elements (RREs) were measured by ICP-MS in the whole blood of participants. A total of 20 out of 49 elements (40.8%) were detected in ≥20% of participants. Arsenic, copper, mercury, lead, selenium, strontium and zinc were detected in ≥99% of samples. Among the REEs, 7 showed detection frequencies above 20%. The median number of different elements detected was 15. In the present series, 77.0, 99.2 and 33.4% of the participants showed values of arsenic, mercury and lead higher than Reference Values 95%. These percentages were much higher than those reported in similar studies. Niobium and tantalum showed the highest median concentrations: 1.35 and 1.34 ng/mL, suggesting an environmental source of these valuable REEs in Cape Verde. Age appeared as the most important factor influencing the blood levels of inorganic elements. Lifestyle had an effect on the concentration of some of these elements. Those subjects whose water source was pond water had significantly higher arsenic levels. The concentration of ∑REEs was significantly higher among individuals who purchase their food in supermarkets (P = 0.013). These variables are of relevance since they can be controlled individually to reduce exposure to these contaminants. Our results may be useful for the implementation of public health measures by the competent authorities.

Assessment of pesticide residues in vegetables produced in central and eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, pesticides are widely used in vegetable production. However, if used incorrectly they may harm consumers of vegetables contaminated with pesticide residues, as well as producers handling the pesticides and lead to ecological damage. We performed a cross-sectional survey to assess pesticide residues in vegetables produced in central and eastern Ethiopia.MethodsA total of 232 vegetable samples (91 tomatoes, 106 cabbages and 35 Swiss chard) were collected from fields and retail markets, and were screened for 35 pesticides (16 organochlorine, 11 organophosphate, 3 pyrethroids, 2 carbamates and 3 other agrochemicals) using GC–MS analysis.ResultsPesticides residues were detected in 60% of Swiss chard, 47% of cabbage and 45% of tomato samples. Two or more pesticides were detected in 20% of cabbages, 13% of tomatoes and over half of Swiss chard samples. Bendiocarb, diazinon, endrin, piperonyl butoxide, profenofos and propargite were detected, but only diazinon, propargite and profenofos had residual values above EU Maximum Residue Level (MRL), with diazinon commonly detected at relatively high levels. About 15% of the total analyzed samples, 10% of cabbages and tomatoes, and nearly half of Swiss chard samples had pesticide concentration exceeding EU MRL. However, none of the tested samples had residues exceeding Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) MRLs.ConclusionThis study showed widespread contamination of vegetables with pesticides, mainly organophosphates. We recommend monitoring and regulation of pesticides usage, with promotion of good agricultural practices.

Uptake, translocation and metabolism of acetamiprid and cyromazine by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Acetamiprid (ACE) and cyromazine (CYR) are the two pesticides that are used relatively frequently and in large quantities in cowpea growing areas in Hainan. The uptake, translocation and metabolic patterns and subcellular distribution of these two pesticides in cowpea are important factors affecting pesticide residues in cowpea and assessing the dietary safety of cowpea. In this study, we investigated the uptake, translocation, subcellular distribution, and metabolic pathway of ACE and CYR in cowpea under laboratory hydroponic conditions. The distribution trends of both ACE and CYR in cowpea plants were leaves > stems > roots. The distribution of both pesticides in subcellular tissues of cowpea was cell soluble fraction > cell wall > cell organelle, and both transport modes were passive. A multiplicity of metabolic reactions of both pesticides occurred in cowpea, including dealkylation, hydroxylation and methylation. The results of the dietary risk assessment indicate that ACE is safe for use in cowpeas, but CYR poses an acute dietary risk to infants and young children. This study provided a basis for insights into the transport and distribution of ACE and CYR in vegetables and contributes to the assessment of whether pesticide residues in vegetables could pose a potential threat to human health at high concentrations of pesticides in the environment.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in yard long bean collected from Mymensingh district of Bangladesh

The farmers of our country mostly depend on chemical pesticides for crop protection due to the scarcity of competent pesticide alternatives and enough knowledge of safe pest management. As a result, there is a great possibility to remain residues in the harvested crops. Keeping this view, this study was conducted to analyze organophosphorus pesticide residues in yard long bean collected from five local markets of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The collected samples were carried to the Pesticide Analytical Laboratory, Entomology Division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur on the same sampling day. The collected samples were analyzed using Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction technique and Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled with Flame Thermionic Detector (FTD). Among the 30 samples of yard long bean, 3 samples (10% of the total samples) contained residue of quinalphos, of which 2 samples contained quinalphos residue above MRL. This study reflects the overall scenario of pesticide residue remain in the harvested yard long bean collected from local markets of Mymensingh city. Therefore, monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables should be strengthened. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2023, 8 (1), 8-16

Matrix Solid-Phase Extraction of Nine Pesticide Residues from Vegetables Based on Mesoporous Carbon via an Alternative Sample Preparation Approach

In this work, an n-octadecylamine functionalized mesoporous carbon nanocomposite (ODA-MPC) was synthesized, and its novel application was demonstrated by utilizing it as a sorbent in matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) of nine pesticide residues identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Here, the protection of the sorbent by the mesoporous fiber membrane enabled it to process complex aqueous matrices and made it advantageous to be used in MSPD. The results confirmed the excellent ability of ODA-MPC to remove matrix interferences and reduce matrix effects compared to the traditional solid phase extraction. In particular, the recoveries were 85.0–95.8% (n = 3) with relative standard deviations less than 5%. Additionally, nine pesticide residues in vegetables and fruit were satisfactorily extracted and detected.

The cohesion of cascade enzyme reaction with metal-organic framework composite for the sensitive detection of malathion and in-situ imaging of vegetables

The high residual nature of organophosphorus pesticides poses a potential risk to the environment and human health through bioaccumulation. Herein, by using Fe3O4 nanoclusters (NCs) as the nucleation center and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as the stabilization layer, Cu-based metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) were directly grown around Fe3O4 NCs to form core-shell Fe3O4@Cu-MOFs composites (FCF). Then, the fluorescence properties of FCF were used to construct a fluorescence biosensor for the detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetables. The bi-enzyme function between acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase can produce hydrogen peroxide, which can oxidize ferrous ions to ferric ions thus influencing the fluorescence of FCF. Based on the ability of malathion pesticides to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, the biosensor demonstrated a linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of the malathion in the range of 5 ng/mL to 50 μg/mL with a detection limit of 4.2 ng/mL. Furthermore, the FCF was combined with agarose gels to realize the visualization detection of malathion. This novel fluorescent nanocomposite offers promising applications for the visual detection of malathion and in situ imaging of vegetables, establishing a new pathway to develop high-performance fluorescent materials for environmental and food safety.

Assessment of pesticide residues in vegetables selected from different Egyptian governorates

This study aimed to assess the levels of contamination by pesticide residues in several types of vegetables collected from different regions in Egypt. A total of 100 samples of vegetables (pepper, tomato, cucumber, and strawberry) were collected from markets in five cities (Al-Obour, Al-Salheia El-Gadida, Giza, Zagazig, and Fayed) and analyzed for the presence of 42 different pesticide residues. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method was used to extract the target pesticides, which were then quantified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques. The results showed that 72% of the vegetable samples contained detectable levels of pesticide residues, with 21% exceeding the European Union Maximum Residue Levels (EU-MRLs) and 51% containing residues below the MRLs. The detected residues were primarily insecticides (56.4%) and fungicides (43.6%), with tomato and strawberry samples showing the highest frequency of both types of pesticides. Tomato also had the highest absolute intake from consumption (2.89 g/kg BW/day), followed by strawberries, peppers, and cucumbers (0.47, 0.159, and 0.096 g/kg BW/day, respectively). A hazard index (HI) was used to assess the dietary risk posed by the pesticide residues, with tomato having the highest contribution value. These findings highlight the need for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs to reduce the excessive use of pesticides, particularly in relation to raw food commodities. Action is required to minimize the unacceptable risks identified in this study.

Evaluation of pesticide residues in vegetables and risk assessment from Incheon, Korea.

This study investigated pesticide residues to evaluate food safety caused by vegetables in Incheon. A total of 385 samples of 33 different types of vegetables mainly consumed by Koreans were collected from the Incheon market in 2021. The pesticide residues were analyzed by the multi-residue methods of the Korean Food Code for 339 different pesticides. Of the 385 vegetables, no residual pesticides were detected in 329 samples (85.5%), while 56 samples (14.5%) contained residual pesticides and 13 samples (3.4%) had residues above the maximum residue limit. A total of 34 different pesticide residues were detected and 8 pesticides exceeded maximum residue limits (MRLs). The most frequently detected pesticide residues were fluxametamide (7 samples), azoxystrobin (4 samples), chlorantraniliprole (3 samples), flubendiamide (3 samples), and procymidone (3 samples). The highest values in the risk assessment were obtained when Chinese chives were consumed with terbufos. But the values of HQ and cHI were lower than 100%. Therefore, the results showed that the detected pesticides were no potential risk from consumption of vegetables.

Extreme Temperature Switches Eliminate Root-Knot Nematodes: A Greenhouse Study

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) severely affect the yield and quality of vegetable crops. While some chemical pesticides can effectively eliminate RKNs, they leave behind significant pesticide residues in vegetables and soil that are potentially harmful for humans. Research suggests that dormant RKNs in the soil become active in the presence of a host, upon which they become sensitive to extreme temperature changes. Here, we tested a novel method to eliminate RKNs (Meloidogyne incognita) in a greenhouse setting. RKNs were first activated by water spinach, at which point the soil was heated by natural sunlight and suddenly cooled by the addition of dry ice. This rapid change in temperature eliminated >90% of activated RKNs. After the temperature treatment, the physical features of soil did not change; however, soil porosity, available potassium content and soil invertase activity increased markedly. The treated soil was then used for cucumber planting to test its viability. Compared with cucumber plants grown in untreated soil, plants in treated soil had higher, thicker, and stronger shoots, and higher photosynthetic ability. Cucumber plants grown in untreated soil were severely infested with nematodes while few plants grown in treated soil had root knots containing nematodes. Based on these findings, we suggest that host plant induction followed by switched temperature treatment is an effective, easy, safe, and cost-effective method for eliminating RKNs.

Quantitative determination of carbosulfan residues by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Carbosulfan gets easily decomposed into carbofuran and 3-Hydroxy carbofuran in vegetables and forms harmful residues. To detect the residues of carbosulfan in vegetables (for example, cowpeas), a super-sensitive method of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used in this work. Silver sol was prepared as the SERS substrate. To solve the adsorption problem of carbosulfan on Ag nanoparticles, 2, 6-dichloroquinone-4-chlorimide (chromogenic agent), and sodium hydroxide were added in carbosulfan to generate a complex, which was then mixed with the silver sol in the best proportion to examine SERS spectra. According to density functional theory calculations, the spectral peak positions of carbosulfan were determined. The optimal mixing ratio of the complex and the silver sol to obtain the optimal SERS spectrum and the detection limit of carbosulfan were investigated. The ultra-sensitive detection of carbosulfan residues (8.7 × 10-11 g/L) in cowpeas was realized. The results of this work indicate that SERS is a promising technique for detecting single-molecule pesticide residues in vegetables.

Development of 2D and 3D front face fluorescence spectroscopy for monitoring ultrasound treatment in the removal of pesticides residues from fresh lettuces at the laboratory and pilot scales

Pesticide residues in vegetables are potentially toxic components to humans and can cause serious health problems. To remove pesticide residues from fresh agricultural products and improve consumer food safety, various pesticide removal methods have been investigated over the past decades. In this study, the effectiveness of laboratory and pilot scale ultrasonic cleaning on the removal of boscalid and pyraclostrobin residues from lettuce was examined. 2D fluorescence spectroscopy, 3D fluorescence spectroscopy represented by excitation-emission matrix (EEM), and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) were used to characterize and discriminate the fluorescence signatures of these pesticides in the cleaning water to determine the effectiveness of the ultrasonic cleaning method as a function of the level of pesticide removal. The 2D fluorescence results showed that the rate of removal of boscalid by ultrasonics at the laboratory scale increased with the cleaning time. The ultrasonic treatment showed a higher cleaning efficiency compared to only soaking in distilled water for 10 min. The same trends were observed at the pilot scale. The EEM also showed differences in the concentration of pesticides removed by ultrasonication between the different parts of the lettuce, the concentration was higher in the upper part than the lower part. This study showed that ultrasonication is an effective technique for the removal of pesticide residues on lettuce, and it also showed the significant potential of fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with PARAFAC for the discrimination and characterization of pesticides.

ANALYSIS OF APPLICATION USE OF PESTICIDES AND PESTICIDE RESIDUE ON VEGETABLES IN SAMBIREJO VILLAGE

The use of chemical-based pesticides has been proven to increase farmers' production, so that almost all farmers use pesticides in all farming. Excessive use will cause pesticide residues in vegetables to be high. The purpose of this research was to determine the use of pesticides in terms of dosage, accuracy of pesticides, the time span of spraying with harvests and pesticide residues in vegetables. This research used a qualitative approach to see the behavior of farmers in the application of pesticides, data collection methods by conducting interviews and FGDs. Respondents in this research were 50 vegetable farmers randomly taken. The FGD was attended by 10 people consisting of the head of the farmer group and the Agricultural Extension Officer while the vegetable samples were taken 4 which were selected based on the highest frequency sprayed. The results of this research were 70% of farmers applied pesticides according to the dosage, 50% of farmers applied pesticides based on pest observations, 18% according to the distance of the last spraying with the harvest time with a time of more than 7 days, and the pesticide residues on chlorpiripos leeks exceeded the threshold value with a concentration of 0.051 mg/kg or exceeding NAV 76.47%, while the pesticide residue type of parathion with a concentration of 0.039 exceeds the NAV of 8.3%. It is supposed that farmers can apply the right target rules, the right dosage, the right time, the right way and the right type so that the risk of pesticide residues on vegetables can be minimized
 

Consumer preference and willingness to pay for low-residue vegetables: Evidence from discrete choice experiments in China

IntroductionThis study aims to investigate consumers' cognition, preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for celery with low pesticide residues, and to provide evidence from a consumer perspective for government food safety regulation.MethodA survey was conducted on the population over the age of 18 in 6 provinces of Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan, Hebei and Heilongjiang in China, in order to improve the representativeness of sample. The study carried out a survey of respondents' cognitive attitudes towards low-residue vegetables, and applied a discrete choice model (DCE) to simulate different scenarios of consumers buying vegetables. The DCE included residue level, appearance, taste, and price and finally constructed 24 choice sets. Respondents' preference for low-residue celery and WTP were analyzed using a mixed logit model.ResultA total of 1292 respondents were surveyed. The model results showed that consumers had the highest positive preference for pesticide-free celery. For the Chinese consumers, price was the most important attribute, followed by the residue level, taste, and appearance. Consumer WTP for pesticide-free celery was11.17CNY/500g. Factors affecting consumer preferences were age, gender, income, education, whether they had children, or paid attention to pesticide residue in vegetables, and related reports of pesticide residue exceed the standard in vegetables.ConclusionOur study is more finely divided at the residue level, and the findings provide useful information for producers and policy makers.

Multi-Pesticide Residue Analysis Method Designed for the Robot Experimenters

Robots replacing humans as the executioners is crucial work for intelligent multi-pesticide residue analysis to maximize reproducibility and throughput while minimizing the expertise required to perform the entire process. Traditional analysis methods are predicated on manual execution, so we configured our robot experimenter, automated the analytical workflow, and achieved the goal of robotics execution. Our robot experimenter with an X-Y-Z axis robotic arm was interfaced with seven modules and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for automated standard solution preparation, sample pre-treatment, and UPLC-MS/MS detection. An algorithm was established to make the prepared matrix-matched standard solutions meet the monitoring requirements. The strategy was demonstrated and validated for the detection of 325 pesticides in 4 typical food matrices, suggesting that the developed method is applicable for the analysis of pesticide residues in vegetables and tea as part of regulatory monitoring programs and other purposes.

Modified matrix solid phase dispersion-HPLC method for determination of pesticide residue in vegetables and their impact on human health: A risk assessment.

The use of pesticides is unavoidable in agricultural practices. This class of chemicals is highly toxic for the environment as well as for humans. The present work was carried out to assess the presence of some pesticides (diafenthiuron, lufenuron, azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, and chlorothalonil) residues in five of the very commonly used vegetables (eggplant, capsicum, apple gourd, cauliflower, and sponge gourd). Matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) technique was used to extract the pesticides and subsequently their quantification was performed through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) detector. The elution was accomplished at wavelength of 254nm by injecting 20µL of standards or samples into chromatographic system. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water (80:20 v/v), where the flow rate was adjusted at 1.0ml/min. The linearity was good (R 2 ≥ 0.994) over a concentration range from 20 to 100μg/ml for the investigated pesticides. The low detection limits showed a quite appreciable potential of the method to detect (1.12-1.61μg/L) and quantify (3.73-5.36μg/ml) the pesticides under study. The accuracy was demonstrated in terms of percent recovery which ranged between 88.5% and 116.9% for all the pesticides under investigation. These results justify the suitability of the technique for the intended purpose. The concentration of difenoconazole in apple gourd (20.97mg/kg), cauliflower (10.28mg/kg), and sponge gourd (40.32mg/kg) whereas diafenthiuron in cauliflower (0.66mg/kg) exceeded the maximum residue level (MRLs) as defined by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO). Target hazard quotient (THQ) values of difenoconazole and diafenthiuron (except for adults) were more than one which indicates the significant effect on human health on consumption of apple gourd, cauliflower, and sponge gourd.

Efficacy of some washing solutions for removal of pesticide residues in lettuce

BackgroundWhen previous studies were examined, it was reported that a wide variety of pesticide residues were detected in lettuce (Bakırcı et al. in Food Chem 160:379–392, 2014; Balkan and Yılmaz in Food Chem 384:132516, 2022; Qin et al. in Food Res Int 72:161–167, 2015; Selim et al. in Res J Environ Sci 5:248–258, 2011). In addition, pesticide-contaminated lettuce poses a risk to consumers as it is a fresh food that is eaten raw. Therefore, pesticide removal processes must be applied before consumption. Some pesticide removal process, such as storage and heat treatment cannot be applied to lettuce because of unshelled, no long shelf life and consuming as fresh. Different practical methods are needed for the removal of pesticides process. The recommendations of suitable methods for cleaning salad materials in ready-to-eat sector, hotels, restaurants and homes are very important. It is important to reduce pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits that are consumed raw by washing them with non-toxic solutions. These approaches aim to protect public health. The study conducted in 2021 determined the effect of various washing treatments. For this purpose, before the washing trials, QuEChERS method was validated for determination of 7 pesticides in lettuce, by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Lettuce plants were grown in the greenhouse for the study. Lettuces were brought to the laboratory 24 h after pesticides were applied in the greenhouse. The samples were kept in 2 L washing solution for pesticide analysis.ResultsThe processing factor values of all washing applications were found below 1. This result shows that the residue level was reduced by washing solutions. Among the washing solution treatments, the rice vinegar washing solution was found to be most effective in reducing the pesticide residues which was due to the high degree in the pesticide degradation. Washing with filtered rice water also exhibited equivalent reduction capability similar to rice vinegar.ConclusionsThe effectiveness of washing solutions was different for boscalid, deltamethrin, fluopcolide, fluopyram, pyrimethanil, pyraclostrobin and sulfoxaflor. However, when the average removal of these pesticides was evaluated, the most effective solutions were rice vinegar, filtered rice water, carbonated water, NaCl + grape vinegar, hot tap water (40 °C), grape vinegar (6% acetic acid), grape vinegar + water, cold tap water (20 °C), lemon juice, baking soda water, grape vinegar (8% acetic acid), filtered mint water and grape vinegar (4% acetic acid), respectively. It was concluded that some of the solutions used in this study can significantly reduce exposure to pesticides for consumers.