Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from Pakistan: a review of the occurrence and associated human health risks

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 21; no. 23; pp. 13367 - 13393
• Main Authors: Syed, Jabir Hussain, Alamdar, Ambreen, Mohammad, Ashiq, Ahad, Karam, Shabir, Zunera, Ahmed, Haroon, Ali, Syeda Maria, Sani, Syed Gul Abbas Shah, Bokhari, Habib, Gallagher, Kevin D, Ahmad, Iftikhar, Eqani, Syed Ali Musstjab Akber Shah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Allium cepa; apples; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; bananas; Commodities; Consumption; Contaminants; Conventions; Crop diseases; Crops; DDT - analysis; diazinon; Dieldrin; Dieldrin - analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Food; Food and Agriculture Organization; Food contamination & poisoning; Food Contamination - statistics & numerical data; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Fungicides; Geochemistry; grapes; guidelines; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Herbicides; Human exposure; human health; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - analysis; Insecticides; Laboratories; Lycopersicon esculentum; Malus; Mangifera indica; mangoes; maximum residue limits; melons; methamidophos; onions; Organic compounds; Organochlorine pesticides; Organophosphates; Pakistan; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Pesticides - analysis; plums; potatoes; Prunus; Public health; pyrethrins; Pyrethroids; raw fruit; Review Article; Risk; Solanum tuberosum; Studies; Tomatoes; Vegetables; Vegetables - chemistry; Vitaceae; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; World Health Organization; Bangladesh; China; Pakistan; China, People's Rep; Maximum residue limits (MRLs); Vegetables; Pakistan; Hazard risk index (HRI); Pesticides; Fruits
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3117-z

The main objective of the review is to document, assess and analyze the results of the previously reported data on levels of different pesticides in selected fruits and vegetables from Pakistan. The findings of the previous studies clearly indicated that more than 50 % of the samples were contaminated with organophosphate, pyrethroids and organochlorine pesticides. Many studies reported that among fresh fruits and vegetables tomato, apple, melon, mango, grapes, and plum crossed the FAO/WHO permissible limits for these contaminants residual levels. The comparison of other regions showed that observed levels were found above maximum residue limits (MRLs) in 50 % of the samples but were in agreement with the studies from neighboring countries like China and Bangladesh. Higher hazard risk index (HRI) values were calculated for dieldrin, methamidophos, o,p′-DDT, diazinon and p,p′-DDT in apple, mango, banana, melon, potato and onion. The review also highlights that data on pesticide residues in foodstuff is scarce which should be overcome by further extending studies from different areas of Pakistan. In order to ascertain the provision of food suitable for human consumption, it is imperative to monitor pesticides in food commodities by the country’s authorities and enforce guidelines based on permissible limits.