Monitoring and Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Some Locally Produced Vegetables and Fruits

Abstract

The presence of pesticide residues in locally produced fruits and vegetables in Egypt raises health concerns among consumers. The aims of this study were to determine the contamination level of pesticide residues in some consumed local horticultural products such as oranges, potatoes, tomatoes and grapes in the following Egyptian governorates: Dakahlia, Ismailia, Fayoum, Alexandria, Cairo, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sharkia, Port Said, Beheira, Minya, Menoufia, Zagazig and Giza. Potential risk assessment to the human health was assessed in our study. About 175 samples of horticultural crops were analyzed using the QuEChERS method followed by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS analysis. Out of the total 175 samples analyzed, 35 samples (20%) were free from pesticide residues, 140 samples (80%) were contaminated, and 59 samples (42%) from the contaminated samples were exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRL's). The most frequently detected pesticides were chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and carbendazim. The risk assessment studies for the only violated samples indicated seemingly that no possible human risks to consumers were observed according to the calculated Health Index (HI). However, pesticide residues must be regularly and widely monitored, in other fresh commodities and other governorates.