Evaluation of pesticide residues and risk assessment in apple and grape from western Azerbaijan Province of Iran

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 203; p. 111882
• Main Authors: Mahdavi, Vahideh, Eslami, Zahra, Molaee-Aghaee, Ebrahim, Peivasteh-Roudsari, Leila, Sadighara, Parisa, Thai, Van Nam, Fakhri, Yadolah, Ravanlou, Abbas Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Adult; Apple; Azerbaijan; Child; Food Contamination - analysis; Grape; Humans; Iran; Malus; Pesticide residue; Pesticide Residues - analysis; Risk Assessment; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; UHPLC-MS/MS; Vitis; Iran; Azerbaijan; Apple; UHPLC-MS/MS; Risk assessment; Grape; Pesticide residue
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111882

West Azerbaijan, especially the city of Urmia, is the center of Iranian apple and grape production hence the importance of this, residues of 85 pesticides in these products were investigated using modified QuEChERS extraction followed by UHPLC-MS/MS technique. Residues of 17 different pesticides detected in some apple samples. In grape sample only 7 pesticides detected. The levels of the residues found in all apple and grape samples were below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of Iran, except for iprodione. Health risk assessment associated with pesticide residues in apples and grapes were estimated by hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI), which indicated that the HI value was lower than 1 in adults and children due to apple and consumption. HI in adults and children were 0.012 and 0.054 in apple; 0.001 and 0.003 in grape samples, respectively. Although the health risk assessment showed that the consumers are not at considerable risk but due to pesticide residue, implement control plans to manage the proper application of this pesticide, or replace it with safer alternatives in apple and grape is required. •85 Pesticide residues were analysed in apple and grape using QuEChERS extraction followed by UHPLC-MS/MS technique.•Acetamiprid (60 %), fenoxycarb (20 %), and diazinon (16 %) were the most frequently detected pesticides in apples.•The most observed pesticides in grapes were acetamiprid (12 %) and penconazole (8 %).•Health risk assessment indicated the HI value was lower than 1 in children and adults due to apple and grape consumption.