Evaluation of pesticide residues in the irrigation water, soil and assessment of their health risks in vegetables from sub-urban areas around Riyadh district, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The levels of 25 pesticide residues were evaluated in 20 samples of irrigation water, agricultural soil and edible parts of 60 vegetable samples collected from 5 farms around Riyadh district, Saudi Arabia. Estimated Average Daily Intake (EADI), Health Risk Index (HRI), Cumulative Hazard Index (CHI), and Hazard Ratio (HR) indices were assessed. Pesticide residues were not detected in water samples. In soil samples, 14 (56%) of pesticide residues exceeded their maximum residue limits (MRLs), only 2 (8%) pesticide residues were below MRLs. Results revealed that, leaves and roots of white radish samples collected from farm 2 exceeded MRLs levels of heptachlor residues (0.222 and 0.165 mg/kg) followed by endosulfan (0.123, 0.096 mg/kg). The recorded values of EADI for heptachlor for both adults and children (0.0019 and 0.0022) exceeded the recommended ADI (0.0025 and 0.0001 mg.kg−1.d−1). Health risk index values were found > 1 for adults and children. Besides, the carcinogenic health risk (HR > 1) in all vegetable samples contained heptachlor, aldrin, and heptachlor epoxide. Thus, there are possible carcinogenic risks to human consumers for these vegetables.