The 2013 European Union report on pesticide residues in food

Results from the Danish monitoring programme on pesticide residues from the period 2012-2017 - frequencies and trends in detected pesticides

In order to assess compliance with maximum residue levels in foods and evaluate the exposure of the Danish population to pesticides, a comprehensive monitoring programme was conducted. The work from 2012-2017 involved testing pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables, cereals, animal product and processed commodities. The sampling strategy, mainly based on exposure calculations and previous findings, involved the collection of 13,492 samples primarily from fresh conventional and organic produces on the Danish market. The origin of the samples varied, with 34% being of Danish origin and 67% originating from EU and non-EU countries. The results revealed that residues in conventionally grown produce were detected in 54% of the fruit and vegetable samples, and 30% of the cereal samples. Additionally, residues above the maximum residue limits were found in 1.8% of these samples, most frequently in fruits. As previous years, more residues were found in samples of foreign origin compared to samples of Danish origin. Compared to earlier findings more than 40 pesticides were detected for the first time and including boscalid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, etofenprox, and spinosad, all detected more than 100 times. The data shows that detection of PFAS pesticides has increased dramatically, from 24 in 2006 to 412 in 2022.

Surveillance of pesticide residues in tomato and eggplant and assessment of acute and chronic health risks to the consumers in Pakistan

Pesticide application has become a mandatory requirement of the modern agricultural system, resulting in the objectionable levels of pesticide residues in the treated food commodities and posing health threats to the consumers. This study aimed at optimization and validation of an analytical method which can be reliably applied for routine monitoring of the selected eighteen widely reported pesticides in tomato and eggplant. The principle of quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe, i.e., QuEChERS, involving the acetate-buffered extraction followed by cleanup using the primary secondary amines (PSA) was employed. The analytical method was validated at three spiking levels (0.05, 0.01, 0.005 mg/kg) using gas chromatograph-micro electron capture detector (GC-µECD). Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric detector (GC-MSD) was also used for confirmation and quantification using selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The method was applied on fresh samples of tomato (n = 33) and eggplant (n = 27) collected from local markets of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in the crop season 2020-2021. Twenty-five (76%) tomato samples and fifteen (56%) eggplant samples were found positive for one or more pesticides. Though the chronic and acute health risk assessments indicate that both of these vegetables are unlikely to pose any unacceptable health threat to their consumers, yet the risks from regular intake of pesticides-contaminated food commodities should be regularly addressed for possible protection of the public health and assurance of safe and consistent agro-trade, alike.

Hydrophobic-action-driven removal of six organophosphorus pesticides from tea infusion by modified carbonized bacterial cellulose

The abuse of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in tea planting makes it easy to transfer from tea into its infusion, bringing potential health risks to consumers. Thus, it is essential to adopt reliable techniques to remove OPPs from tea infusion. In this study, three treatment methods were used to modify carbonized bacterial cellulose (CBC) to improve its adsorption performance. Among them, CBC treated by hydrazine hydrate (N-CBC) had the best adsorption effect, whose removal rate for dicrotophos is 13 times that of CBC. The in-depth study of adsorption mechanism proved that hydrophobic interaction dominated the adsorption of OPPs onto N-CBC. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model were more suitable to describe the process. Additionally, there were no significant changes in tea infusion quality after N-CBC treatment. This work clarifies that N-CBC benefitted from simple preparation method, excellent adsorption performance and unique adsorption mechanism has potential applications in tea infusion.

Cellulose Nanofiber Platform for Pesticide Sequestration in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Exploitation of nature-derived materials is an important approach to promote environmental sustainability. Among these materials, cellulose is of particular interest due to its abundance and relative ease of access. As a food ingredient, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have found interesting applications as emulsifiers and modulators of lipid digestion and absorption. In this report, we show that CNFs can also be modified to modulate the bioavailability of toxins, such as pesticides, in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) by forming inclusion complexes and promoting interaction with surface hydroxyl groups. CNFs were successfully functionalized with (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) using citric acid as a crosslinker via esterification. Functionally, the potential for pristine and functionalized CNFs (FCNFs) to interact with a model pesticide, boscalid, was tested. Based on direct interaction studies, adsorption of boscalid saturated at around 3.09% on CNFs and at 12.62% on FCNFs. Using an in vitro GIT simulation platform, the adsorption of boscalid on CNFs/FCNFs was also studied. The presence of a high-fat food model was found to have a positive effect in binding boscalid in a simulated intestinal fluid environment. In addition, FCNFs were found to have a greater effect in retarding triglyceride digestion than CNFs (61% vs 30.6%). Overall, FCNFs were demonstrated to evoke synergistic effects of reducing fat absorption and pesticide bioavailability through inclusion complex formation and the additional binding of the pesticide onto surface hydroxyl groups on HPBCD. By adopting food-compatible materials and processes for production, FCNFs have the potential to be developed into a functional food ingredient for modulating food digestion and the uptake of toxins.

A mixture of 13 pesticides, contaminants, and food additives below individual NOAELs produces histopathological and organ weight changes in rats

The current approach for the risk assessment of chemicals does not account for the complex human real-life exposure scenarios. Exposure to chemical mixtures in everyday life has raised scientific, regulatory, and societal concerns in recent years. Several studies aiming to identify the safety limits of chemical mixtures determined hazardous levels lower than those of separate chemicals. Following these observations, this study built on the standards set by the real-life risk simulation (RLRS) scenario and investigated the effect of long-term exposure (18 months) to a mixture of 13 chemicals (methomyl, triadimefon, dimethoate, glyphosate, carbaryl, methyl parathion, aspartame, sodium benzoate, EDTA, ethylparaben, butylparaben, bisphenol A and acacia gum) in adult rats. Animals were divided into four dosing groups [0xNOAEL (control), 0.0025xNOAEL (low dose-LD), 0.01xNOAEL (medium dose-MD) and 0.05xNOAEL (high dose-HD) (mg/kg BW/day)]. After 18 months of exposure, all animals were sacrificed, and their organs were harvested, weighed, and pathologically examined. While organ weight tended to be higher in males than in females, when sex and dose were taken into account, lungs and hearts from female rats had significantly greater weight than that of males. This discrepancy was more obvious in the LD group. Histopathology showed that long-term exposure to the chemical mixture selected for this study caused dose-dependent changes in all examined organs. The main organs that contribute to chemical biotransformation and clearance (liver, kidneys, and lungs) consistently presented histopathological changes following exposure to the chemical mixture. In conclusion, exposure to very low doses (below the NOAEL) of the tested mixture for 18 months induced histopathological lesions and cytotoxic effects in a dose and tissue-dependent manner.

Pesticide Residues in Bananas from the Canary Islands

There are a large number of pests which are detrimental to plant production, specifically to banana cultivation, and the use of pesticides is the main method of control of these pests. Therefore, the number of active substances in pesticides has been steadily increasing since before the Second World War. There is growing consumer concern about the health effects of pesticide residues and there is certainly evidence of a link between pesticide exposure and the prevalence of chronic diseases. Therefore, it is of particular interest to study the presence of pesticide residues in bananas and their toxicological, agricultural and legal implications. In this study, the content of pesticide residues in bananas produced in the Canary Islands during a ten-year period from 2008 to 2017 was determined. A total of 733 samples of bananas were analysed during the study period, in which 191 different active substances were investigated, involving 103,641 assessments. The samples analysed were selected in such a way that they are representative of the banana sector in the Canary Islands as a whole, taking into account geographical and climatic factors, cultivation methods and the processing of bananas in packaging, which are the differentiating factors in the use of pesticides. The reference parameter for the residue investigation is the MRL (maximum residue limit).

Parental exposure to propiconazole at environmentally relevant concentrations induces thyroid and metabolism disruption in zebrafish (Danio rerio) offspring: An in vivo, in silico and in vitro study

Propiconazole is used against fungal growth in agriculture and is released into the environment, but is a potential health threat to aquatic organisms. Propiconazole induces a generational effect on zebrafish, although the toxic mechanisms involved have not been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanisms of abnormal offspring development after propiconazole exposure in zebrafish parents. Zebrafish were exposed to propiconazole at environmentally realistic concentrations (0.1, 5, and 250 μg/L) for 100 days and their offspring were grown in control solution for further study. Heart rate, hatching rate, and body length of hatched offspring were reduced. An increase in triiodothyronine (T₃) content and the T₃/T₄ (tetraiodothyronine) ratio was observed, indicating disruption of thyroid hormones. Increased protein level of transthyretin (TTR) in vivo was consistent with the in silico molecular docking results and T₄ competitive binding in vitro assay, suggests higher binding affinity between propiconazole and TTR, more than with T₄. Increased expression of genes related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and altered metabolite levels may have affected offspring development. These findings emphasizes that propiconazole, even on indirect exposure, represents health and environmental risk that should not be ignored.

Evaluation of Pesticide Residues Occurrence in Random Samples of Organic Fruits and Vegetables Marketed in Poland

In recent years, organic food, produced with the use of natural means and production methods, has been gaining more and more popularity among consumers. This is due, inter alia, to their belief that it is more abundant in health-promoting bioactive compounds and safer than conventional food. Consumers are increasingly aware of the harmfulness of plant protection products used in intensive agriculture, which are not allowed in organic production. At the same time, it is reported that a certain share of organic products on the EU market are contaminated with pesticide residues, which may raise consumer concerns and lead to a loss of trust in organic food. The aim of the present study was to investigate the problem of pesticide residues occurrence in random samples of organically produced fruits and vegetables (apples, potatoes, carrots, and beetroots) commonly used in the Polish households, and which are available directly from the organic producers in open markets in Poland. For simultaneous analysis of 375 pesticides, an LC-MS/MS system consisting of an Eksigent expert ultraLC 100-XL coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer QTRAP 6500 and GC Agilent 6890 N equipped with ECD/NPD system were used. Among the 96 vegetable and fruit samples studied, 89 samples (92.7%) were free from detectable pesticide residues, 7 samples (7.3%) of carrot (5) and potato (2) were contaminated, and in 1 of them (1.0%) the detected residues exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL). None of the tested apple and beetroot samples were found to contain detectable residues. These findings are important for Polish consumers who look for high-quality organic food. However, the presence of detectable residues in a small proportion of the organic samples indicates a need to strengthen the monitoring of pesticides in organic crops, to educate farmers and to raise their awareness regarding the risks of unauthorized use of pesticides banned in organic farming, which can damage the reputation of the whole organic sector.

Improving the Risk Assessment of Pesticides through the Integration of Human Biomonitoring and Food Monitoring Data: A Case Study for Chlorpyrifos

The risk assessment of pesticide residues in food is a key priority in the area of food safety. Most jurisdictions have implemented pre-marketing authorization processes, which are supported by prospective risk assessments. These prospective assessments estimate the expected residue levels in food combining results from residue trials, resembling the pesticide use patterns, with food consumption patterns, according to internationally agreed procedures. In addition, jurisdictions such as the European Union (EU) have implemented large monitoring programs, measuring actual pesticide residue levels in food, and are supporting large-scale human biomonitoring programs for confirming the actual exposure levels and potential risk for consumers. The organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos offers an interesting case study, as in the last decade, its acceptable daily intake (ADI) has been reduced several times following risk assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This process has been linked to significant reductions in the use authorized in the EU, reducing consumers’ exposure progressively, until the final ban in 2020, accompanied by setting all EU maximum residue levels (MRL) in food at the default value of 0.01 mg/kg. We present a comparison of estimates of the consumer’s internal exposure to chlorpyrifos based on the urinary marker 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), using two sources of monitoring data: monitoring of the food chain from the EU program and biomonitoring of European citizens from the HB4EU project, supported by a literature search. Both methods confirmed a drastic reduction in exposure levels from 2016 onwards. The margin of exposure approach is then used for conducting retrospective risk assessments at different time points, considering the evolution of our understanding of chlorpyrifos toxicity, as well as of exposure levels in EU consumers following the regulatory decisions. Concerns are presented using a color code, and have been identified for almost all studies, particularly for the highest exposed group, but at different levels, reaching the maximum level, red code, for children in Cyprus and Israel. The assessment uncertainties are highlighted and integrated in the identification of levels of concern.

Developmental toxicity of fenbuconazole in zebrafish: effects on mitochondrial respiration and locomotor behavior

Triazole fungicides are used to control the disease of cereal crops but may also cause adverse effects on non-target organisms. There is a lack of toxicity data for some triazoles such as fenbuconazole in aquatic organisms. This research was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of fenbuconazole at environmentally relevant concentrations with attention on the mitochondria, antioxidant system, and locomotor activity in zebrafish. Zebrafish were exposed to one concentration of 5, 50, 200 or 500ng/L fenbuconazole for 96h. There was no effect on survival nor percentage of fish hatched, but exposure to 200 and 500ng/L fenbuconazole resulted in malformation and hypoactivity in zebrafish. Oxygen consumption rates (OCR) of embryos were measured to determine if the fungicide impaired mitochondrial respiration. Exposure to 500ng/L fenbuconazole reduced basal OCR and oligomycin-induced ATP linked respiration in exposed fish. Fenbuconazole reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced the activities of mitochondrial Complex II and III. Transcript levels of both sdhc and cyc1, each related to Complex II and III, were also altered in expression by fenbuconazole exposure, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction in embryos. Fenbuconazole activated the antioxidant system, based upon both transcriptional and enzymatic data in zebrafish. Consistent with mitochondrial impairment, molecular docking confirmed a strong binding capacity of the fungicide at the Q_i site of Complex III, revealing this complex is susceptible to fenbuconazole. This study reveals potential toxicity pathways related to fenbuconazole exposure in aquatic organisms; such data can improve risk assessments for triazole fungicides.

Redox Activity of Flavonoids: Impact on Human Health, Therapeutics, and Chemical Safety

The cost-effectiveness of presently used therapies is a problem in overall redox-based management, which is posing a significant financial burden on communities across the world. As a result, sophisticated treatment models that provide notions of predictive diagnoses followed by targeted preventive therapies adapted to individual patient profiles are gaining global acclaim as being beneficial to patients, the healthcare sector, and society as a whole. In this context, natural flavonoids were considered due to their multifaceted antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects as well as their low toxicity and ease of availability. The aim of this review is to focus on the capacity of flavonoids to modulate the responsiveness of various diseases and ailments associated with redox toxicity. The review will also focus on the flavonoids' pathway-based redox activity and the advancement of redox-based therapies as well as flavonoids' antioxidant characteristics and their influence on human health, therapeutics, and chemical safety. Research findings indicated that flavonoids significantly exhibit various redox-based therapeutic responses against several diseases such as inflammatory, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and hepatic diseases and various types of cancer by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 transcription system, suppressing the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/IκB kinase inflammatory pathway, abrogating the function of the Hsp90/Hsf1 complex, inhibiting the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway, and preventing mitochondrial dysfunction. Some flavonoids, especially genistein, apigenin, amentoflavone, baicalein, quercetin, licochalcone A, and biochanin A, play a potential role in redox regulation. Conclusions of this review on the antioxidant aspects of flavonoids highlight the medicinal and folk values of these compounds against oxidative stress and various diseases and ailments. In short, treatment with flavonoids could be a novel therapeutic invention in clinical trials, as we hope.

Human Exposure of Fipronil Insecticide and the Associated Health Risk

Fipronil, as an emerging phenylpyrazole insecticide, is ubiquitous in the environment and food due to its broad spectrum and persistent characteristics, but the research on pathways of human exposure to fipronil and the associated health risk is relatively unclear. In this regard, we summarize potential human exposures to fipronil through ingestion and inhalation, as well as results of human biomonitoring studies. This scientific information will contribute to future assessment of fipronil exposure and subsequent characterization of human health risks. Additionally, this Perspective highlights the lack of epidemiological studies and total diet studies for the general population on fipronil.

Spatio-temporal assessment of pregnant women exposure to chlorpyrifos at a regional scale

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to use an integrated exposure assessment approach, combining spatiotemporal modeling of environmental exposure and fate of the chemical to assess the exposure of vulnerable populations. In this study, chlorpyrifos exposure of pregnant women in Picardy was evaluated at a regional scale during 1 year. This approach provided a mapping of exposure indicators of pregnant women to chlorpyrifos over fine spatial and temporal resolutions using a GIS environment.

METHODS

Fate and transport models (emission, atmospheric dispersion, multimedia exposure, PBPK) were combined with environmental databases in a GIS environment. Quantities spread over agricultural fields were simulated and integrated into a modeling chain coupling models. The fate and transport of chlorpyrifos was characterized by an atmospheric dispersion statistical metamodel and the dynamiCROP model. Then, the multimedia model Modul'ERS was used to predict chlorpyrifos daily exposure doses which were integrated in a PBPK model to compute biomarker of exposure (TCPy urinary concentrations). For the concentration predictions, two scenarios (lower bound and upper bound) were built.

RESULTS

At fine spatio-temporal resolutions, the cartography of biomarkers in the lower bound scenario clearly highlights agricultural areas. In these maps, some specific areas and hotspots appear as potentially more exposed specifically during application period. Overall, predictions were close to biomonitoring data and ingestion route was the main contributor to chlorpyrifos exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the feasibility of an integrated approach for the evaluation of chlorpyrifos exposure which allows the comparison between modeled predictions and biomonitoring data.

Characterizing environmental geographic inequalities using an integrated exposure assessment

BACKGROUND

At a regional or continental scale, the characterization of environmental health inequities (EHI) expresses the idea that populations are not equal in the face of pollution. It implies an analysis be conducted in order to identify and manage the areas at risk of overexposure where an increasing risk to human health is suspected. The development of methods is a prerequisite for implementing public health activities aimed at protecting populations.

METHODS

This paper presents the methodological framework developed by INERIS (French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks) to identify a common framework for a structured and operationalized assessment of human exposure. An integrated exposure assessment approach has been developed to integrate the multiplicity of exposure pathways from various sources, through a series of models enabling the final exposure of a population to be defined.

RESULTS

Measured data from environmental networks reflecting the actual contamination of the environment are used to gauge the population's exposure. Sophisticated methods of spatial analysis are applied to include additional information and take benefit of spatial and inter-variable correlation to improve data representativeness and characterize the associated uncertainty. Integrated approaches bring together all the information available for assessing the source-to-human-dose continuum using a Geographic Information System, multimedia exposure and toxicokinetic model.

DISCUSSION

One of the objectives of the integrated approach was to demonstrate the feasibility of building complex realistic exposure scenarios satisfying the needs of stakeholders and the accuracy of the modelling predictions at a fine spatial-temporal resolution. A case study is presented to provide a specific application of the proposed framework and how the results could be used to identify an overexposed population.

CONCLUSION

This framework could be used for many purposes, such as mapping EHI, identifying vulnerable populations and providing determinants of exposure to manage and plan remedial actions and to assess the spatial relationships between health and the environment to identify factors that influence the variability of disease patterns.

Pesticide residues and health risk appraisal of tomato cultivated in greenhouse from the Mediterranean region of Turkey

This research aims at assessing the health risks associated with pesticide residues in greenhouse grown tomato production in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. A multiresidue method based on modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) was used for sample preparation that is applied for pesticide detection from extraction of tomato samples in the methodology generated by The Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) Official Method. The restrain of the quantification varied from 0.002 to 0.009 mg kg-1. The validated data exposed both adequate recoveries, repeatability and reproducibility, including accomplished all other requirements of the European DG SANTE/12682/2019 Guideline. This study divulges that tomatoes cultivated in greenhouse demonstrate 61.5% of samples with one or various pesticide residues. The maximum permitted residue level of above the EU DG Guideline was in 12.2% of the samples. The main determined pesticide residues on the tomatoes cultivated in greenhouse were identified as chlorpyrifos methyl, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, and acetamiprid. Chlorpyrifos methyl (9.5%), cyfluthrin (6.6%), deltamethrin (5.5%), and acetamiprid (3.2%) were recognized as the most conducing residues to the hazard index (HI). The HI was 9.5% for adults and 11.02% for children (3 to <10 years). The major contributor of the HI was chlorpyrifos in both.

Antioxidative Molecules in Human Milk and Environmental Contaminants

Breastfeeding provides overall beneficial health to the mother-child dyad and is universally recognized as the preferred feeding mode for infants up to 6-months and beyond. Human milk provides immuno-protection and supplies nutrients and bioactive compounds whose concentrations vary with lactation stage. Environmental and dietary factors potentially lead to excessive chemical exposure in critical windows of development such as neonatal life, including lactation. This review discusses current knowledge on these environmental and dietary contaminants and summarizes the known effects of these chemicals in human milk, taking into account the protective presence of antioxidative molecules. Particular attention is given to short- and long-term effects of these contaminants, considering their role as endocrine disruptors and potential epigenetic modulators. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps and indicate potential future research directions.

The 2019 European Union report on pesticide residues in food

Under European Union legislation (Article 32, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), the EFSA provides an annual report which examines pesticide residue levels in foods on the European market. This report is based on data from the official national control activities carried out by EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and includes a subset of data from the EU-coordinated control programme which uses a randomised sampling strategy. For 2019, 96.1% of the overall 96,302 samples analysed fell below the maximum residue level (MRL), 3.9% exceeded this level, of which 2.3% were non-compliant, i.e. samples exceeding the MRL after taking the measurement uncertainty into account. For the subset of 12,579 samples analysed as part of the EU-coordinated control programme, 2.0% exceeded the MRL and 1.0% were non-compliant. To assess acute and chronic risk to consumer health, dietary exposure to pesticide residues was estimated and compared with health-based guidance values. The findings suggest that the residue levels for the food commodities analysed are unlikely to pose any concern for consumer health. However, a number of recommendations are proposed to increase the effectiveness of European control systems, thereby continuing to ensure a high level of consumer protection throughout the EU.

Integrated Approach to Evaluate the Association between Exposure to Pesticides and Idiopathic Premature Thelarche in Girls: The PEACH Project

Several pesticides are recognized as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) since they can interfere with the dysregulation of sexual, thyroid and neuro-endocrine hormones. Children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of EDCs due to their developmental stage, peculiar lifestyle and dietary habits. In this context, the exposure to pesticides represents an important risk factor associated with early development. This study deals with the possible association between exposure to pesticides and idiopathic premature thelarche in girls from areas of intensive agriculture practice in the Centre of Italy. An integrated approach was set up, including: (i) a case-control study on girls with idiopathic premature thelarche; (ii) the evaluation of multiple pesticides exposure in girls; (iii) the evaluation of multiple pesticides in food; (iv) the dietary intake of pesticide residues; (v) the assessment of toxicological effects of widely used pesticides by in vitro model. Data integration will provide an estimate of the predictive risk of potential effects on girls' health, linked to dietary intake.

Analysis of Glyphosate Residues in Foods from the Canadian Retail Markets between 2015 and 2017

Underlying the risk management of pesticides to protect human health and to facilitate trade among nations are sound scientific data on the levels of compliance with standards set by governments and internationally from monitoring of the levels of pesticides in foods. Although glyphosate is among the universally used pesticides in the world, monitoring has been hampered by the analytical difficulties in dealing with this highly polar compound. Starting in 2015, using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) that permits accurate and reproducible determination of glyphosate, the prevalence, concentrations, and compliance rates were determined. In this work, the glyphosate residues contents of 7955 samples of fresh fruits and vegetables, milled grain products, pulse products, and finished foods collected from April 2015 to March 2017 in the Canadian retail market are reported. A total of 3366 samples (42.3%) contained detectable glyphosate residues. The compliance rate with Canadian regulations was 99.4%. There were 46 noncompliant samples. Health Canada determined that there was no long-term health risk to Canadian consumers from exposure to the levels of glyphosate found in the samples of a variety of foods surveyed. The high level of compliance (99.4% of samples with the Canadian regulatory limits) and the lack of a health risk for noncompliant samples indicate that, with respect to glyphosates, the food available for sale in Canada is safe.

The 2018 European Union report on pesticide residues in food

Under EU legislation (Article 32, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), EFSA provides an annual report which analyses pesticide residue levels in foods on the European market. The analysis is based on data from the official national control activities carried out by EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and includes a subset of data from the EU-coordinated control programme which uses a randomised sampling strategy. For 2018, 95.5% of the overall 91,015 samples analysed fell below the maximum residue level (MRL), 4.5% exceeded this level, of which 2.7% were non-compliant, i.e. samples exceeding the MRL after taking into account the measurement uncertainty. For the subset of 11,679 samples analysed as part of the EU-coordinated control programme, 1.4% exceeded the MRL and 0.9% were non-compliant. Table grapes and sweet peppers/bell peppers were among the food products that most frequently exceeded the MRLs. To assess acute and chronic risk to consumer health, dietary exposure to pesticide residues was estimated and compared with health-based guidance values. The findings suggest that the assessed levels for the food commodities analysed are unlikely to pose concern for consumer health. However, a number of recommendations are proposed to increase the efficiency of European control systems (e.g. optimising traceability), thereby continuing to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

Metabolic profile and behavior of clethodim and spirotetramat in herbs during plant growth and processing under controlled conditions

Herbs may contain pesticide residues which are an important discriminator of food security and food quality. The challenge of the research was to assess the fate of the herbicide clethodim (CLE) and the insecticide spirotetramat (SPI) applied in herbs (BBCH 11-21) during herb growth and processing under controlled greenhouse trial conditions. The metabolic profile of CLE and SPI and their degradation products in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.) was also presented. The half-lives of CLE and SPI in herbs were 1.10-1.56 days and 0.51-0.83 days, respectively. The terminal residues of SPI (SPI-enol, SPI-ketohydroxy, SPI-monohydroxy and SPI-enol-glucoside) and CLE (CLE-sulfone and CLE-sulfoxide) in herbal matrices were measured below EU maximum residue limits. In this paper, we aimed to assess the impact of washing and dehydratation pretreatment and calculated processing factors (PFs) which can be applied to more accurate food safety assessments. The PF values of CLE and SPI after drying prior washing was below 1 indicating reduction of initial residues. Drying process without washing demonstrated increases of SPI concentrations (PF up to 1.50). The lowest PFs were obtained when raw herbal plants were washed before drying showing almost complete degradation of parent compound (93-99%).

Diet as a Source of Exposure to Environmental Contaminants for Pregnant Women and Children from Six European Countries

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable to exposures to food contaminants, and a balanced diet during these periods is critical for optimal nutritional status.

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to study the association between diet and measured blood and urinary levels of environmental contaminants in mother-child pairs from six European birth cohorts (n = 818 mothers and 1,288 children).

METHODS

We assessed the consumption of seven food groups and the blood levels of organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and heavy metals and urinary levels of phthalate metabolites, phenolic compounds, and organophosphate pesticide (OP) metabolites. Organic food consumption during childhood was also studied. We applied multivariable linear regressions and targeted maximum likelihood based estimation (TMLE).

RESULTS

Maternal high (≥ 4   times / week ) versus low (< 2   times / week ) fish consumption was associated with 15% higher PCBs [geometric mean (GM) ratio = 1.15 ; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.29], 42% higher perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) (GM   ratio = 1.42 ; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.68), 89% higher mercury (Hg) (GM   ratio = 1.89 ; 95% CI: 1.47, 2.41) and a 487% increase in arsenic (As) (GM   ratio = 4.87 ; 95% CI: 2.57, 9.23) levels. In children, high (≥ 3   times / week ) versus low (< 1.5   times / week ) fish consumption was associated with 23% higher perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (GM   ratio = 1.23 ; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.40), 36% higher PFUnDA (GM   ratio = 1.36 ; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.64), 37% higher perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (GM   ratio = 1.37 ; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.54), and > 200 % higher Hg and As [GM   ratio = 3.87 (95% CI: 1.91, 4.31) and GM   ratio = 2.68 (95% CI: 2.23, 3.21)] concentrations. Using TMLE analysis, we estimated that fish consumption within the recommended 2-3 times/week resulted in lower PFAS, Hg, and As compared with higher consumption. Fruit consumption was positively associated with OP metabolites. Organic food consumption was negatively associated with OP metabolites.

DISCUSSION

Fish consumption is related to higher PFAS, Hg, and As exposures. In addition, fruit consumption is a source of exposure to OPs. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5324.

A mixture of routinely encountered xenobiotics induces both redox adaptations and perturbations in blood and tissues of rats after a long-term low-dose exposure regimen: The time and dose issue

Exposure of humans to xenobiotic mixtures is a continuous state during their everyday routine. However, the majority of toxicological studies assess the in vivo effects of individual substances rather than mixtures. Therefore, our main objective was to evaluate the impact of the 12- and 18-month exposure of rats to a mixture containing 13 pesticides, food, and life-style additives in three dosage levels (i.e. 0.0025 × NOAEL, 0.01 × NOAEL, and 0.05 × NOAEL), on redox biomarkers in blood and tissues. Our results indicate that the exposure to the mixture induces physiological adaptations by enhancing the blood antioxidant mechanism (i.e., increased glutathione, catalase and total antioxidant capacity and decreased protein carbonyls and TBARS) at 12 months of exposure. On the contrary, exposure to the 0.05 × NOAEL dose for 18 months induces significant perturbations in blood and tissue redox profile (i.e., increased carbonyls and TBARS). This study simulates a scenario of real-life risk exposure to mixtures of xenobiotics through a long-term low-dose administration regimen in rats. The results obtained could support, at least in part, the necessity of introducing testing of combined stimuli at reference doses and long term for the evaluation of the risk from exposure to chemicals.

Genotoxic, cytotoxic, and cytopathological effects in rats exposed for 18 months to a mixture of 13 chemicals in doses below NOAEL levels

The present study investigates the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of long term exposure to low doses of a mixture consisting of methomyl, triadimefon, dimethoate, glyphosate, carbaryl, methyl parathion, aspartame, sodium benzoate, EDTA, ethylparaben, buthylparaben, bisphenol A and acacia gum in rats. Four groups of ten Sprangue Dawley rats (5 males and 5 females per group) were exposed for 18 months to the mixture in doses of 0xNOAEL, 0.0025xNOAEL, 0.01xNOAEL and 0.05xNOAEL (mg/kg bw/day). After 18 months of exposure, the rats were sacrificed and their organs were harvested. Micronuclei frequency was evaluated in bone marrow erythrocytes whereas the organs were cytopathologically examined by the touch preparation technique. The exposure to the mixture caused a genotoxic effect identified only in females. Cytopathological examination showed specific alterations of tissue organization in a tissue-type dependent manner. The observed effects were dose-dependent and correlated to various tissue parameters. Specifically, testes samples revealed degenerative and cellularity disorders, liver hepatocytes exhibited decreased glycogen deposition whereas degenerative changes were present in gastric cells. Lung tissue presented increased inflammatory cells infiltration and alveolar macrophages with enhanced phagocytic activity, whereas brain tissue exhibited changes in glial and astrocyte cells' numbers. In conclusion, exposure to very low doses of the tested mixture for 18 months induces genotoxic effects as well as monotonic cytotoxic effects in a tissue-dependent manner.

Effects of pesticides on rural workers: haematological parameters and symptomalogical reports

Abstract Exposure to pesticides by the rural population is increasing worldwide. Pesticides can induce the development of different diseases such as cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. This study analysed the clinical symptoms and haematological changes of a rural population in Conceição do Castelo, Espirito Santo, Brazil. For evaluation of symptomatology exposure to pesticides, 142 rural workers were interviewed. Of these, 22 workers were selected for haematological tests randomly as to evaluate haematological changes during the period of exposure to pesticides. Haematological analyses showed that erythrocytes, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular (VCM) volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) are in accordance with the reference intervals in haematology. Variations in the concentrations of rods and neutrophils indicates that exposure to pesticides increases the amount of those cells. Haematological disorders in rural workers exposed to pesticides can be correlated with reported symptoms. The results described in this study are relevant to the health public and reinforce the concern about the indiscriminate use of pesticides.

LC-ESI/MS/MS analysis of neonicotinoids in urine of very low birth weight infants at birth

OBJECTIVES

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used systemic pesticides with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist activity that are a concern as environmental pollutants. Neonicotinoids in humans and the environment have been widely reported, but few studies have examined their presence in fetuses and newborns. The objective of this study is to determine exposure to neonicotinoids and metabolites in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS

An analytical method for seven neonicotinoids and one neonicotinoid metabolite, N-desmethylacetamiprid (DMAP), in human urine using LC-ESI/MS/MS was developed. This method was used for analysis of 57 urine samples collected within 48 hours after birth from VLBW infants of gestational age 23-34 weeks (male/female = 36/21, small for gestational age (SGA)/appropriate gestational age (AGA) = 6/51) who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Dokkyo Hospital from January 2009 to December 2010. Sixty-five samples collected on postnatal day 14 (M/F = 37/22, SGA/AGA = 7/52) were also analyzed.

RESULTS

DMAP, a metabolite of acetamiprid, was detected in 14 urine samples collected at birth (24.6%, median level 0.048 ppb) and in 7 samples collected on postnatal day 14 (11.9%, median level 0.09 ppb). The urinary DMAP detection rate and level were higher in SGA than in AGA infants (both p<0.05). There were no correlations between the DMAP level and infant physique indexes (length, height, and head circumference SD scores).

CONCLUSION

These results provide the first evidence worldwide of neonicotinoid exposure in newborn babies in the early phase after birth. The findings suggest a need to examine potential neurodevelopmental toxicity of neonicotinoids and metabolites in human fetuses.

Adverse and hormetic effects in rats exposed for 12 months to low dose mixture of 13 chemicals: RLRS part III

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of a mixture of thirteen common chemicals on rats, after a one-year exposure to doses around the acceptable daily intake (ADIs), using blood and urinary tests. The influence of low doses of the mixture on weight gain, water consumption, feed consumption and feed efficiency, biochemistry parameters, haematological parameters, blood lymphocytes subsets, serum inflammation profile and urine parameters was evaluated. Our mixture caused a moderate monotonic increase of the males' appetite and a non-monotonic increase of anabolism and a monotonic increase of appetite for the females. Regarding biochemical parameters, the exposure to the test mixture caused non-monotonic increases of AST and ALT, a decrease of PChE in males and plausibly a monotonic biliary obstruction in both sexes. Monocytes significantly increased in low dose groups of both sexes. A significant decrease of all the lymphocytes subclasses and an increased expression of TNF-α protein associated with an increased expression of IFN-γ protein observed in various groups. It became apparent that after twelve months of exposure very low doses of the tested mixture had both non-monotonic and monotonic harmful effects on different levels on rats.

Pregnane X receptor mediates steatotic effects of propiconazole and tebuconazole in human liver cell lines

Triazoles are commonly used fungicides which show liver toxicity in rodent studies. While hepatocellular hypertrophy is the most prominent finding, some triazoles have also been reported to cause hepatocellular steatosis. The aim of our study was to elucidate molecular mechanisms of triazole-mediated steatosis. Therefore, we used the two triazoles propiconazole (Pi) and tebuconazole (Te) as test compounds in in vitro assays using the human hepatocarcinoma cell lines HepG2 and HepaRG. Triglyceride accumulation was measured using the Adipored assay and by a gas-chromatographic method. Reporter gene analyses were used to assess the ability of Pi and Te to activate nuclear receptors, which are described as the molecular initiators in the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for liver steatosis. The expression of steatosis-associated genes was investigated by RT-PCR. Mechanistic analyses of triazole-mediated steatosis were performed using HepaRG subclones that are deficient in different nuclear receptors. Pi and Te both interacted with the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and the pregnane X receptor (PXR). Both compounds induced expression of steatosis-related genes and cellular triglyceride accumulation. The knockout of PXR in HepaRG cells, but not the CAR knockout, abolished triazole-induced triglyceride accumulation, thus underlining the crucial role of PXR in hepatic steatosis resulting from exposure to these fungicides. In conclusion, our findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of steatosis induction by triazole fungicides and identify PXR as a critical mediator of this process.

Reporting data on pesticide residues in food and feed according to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (2018 data collection)

According to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed, Member States have to monitor pesticide residue levels in food samples and submit the monitoring results to EFSA and the European Commission. The Standard Sample Description (SSD, version 1) is the data model used for reporting the data on analytical measurements of chemical substances occurring in food, feed and water to EFSA. This document is a consolidated version of the past four years’ guidance defining the appropriate SSD codes to describe the samples and the analytical results and it gives directions for the reporting of the pesticide residues monitoring data starting with the data generated in 2018 onwards. These provisions take into account the experience of both the previous reporting seasons and the new legislation applicable in 2018. This EFSA Guidance will not be applicable for the 2019 data collection provided to EFSA in 2020. In 2020, all data on annual monitoring will be transmitted in SSD2 format only.

Consumer health risk to pesticide residues in Salvia officinalis L. and its infusions

Salvia officinalis L. is a popular herb widely used in culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal preparations, and also as an ornamental plant. Sage crops are threatened by many diseases, such as gray mold, powdery mildew, and leaf spot, by weeds, and by pests, such as aphids. Use of crop protection products may lead to presence of pesticide residues in this herb. The aim of this work was to study presence of pesticide residues in the herb, S. officinalis L., available on the retail market in Poland, to verify their compliance with the maximum residue levels (MRLs) and to assess the chronic and acute risks associated with consumption of this herb and infusions prepared from contaminated sage plants. Ninety active substances of pesticides were analyzed, including all active substances registered in Poland for protection of the sage. Five active substances were found, one fungicide - boscalid and four insecticides: chlorpyrifos, pp'-DDT, dimethoate (residue levels above MRL) and indoxacarb. The chronic and acute exposure to pesticide residues consumed with sage did not exceed 0.02% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and 0.1% of the acute reference dose (ARfD), respectively.

Combined heterologies for monoclonal antibody-based immunoanalysis of fluxapyroxad

Nowadays, instrumental methodologies and rapid bioanalytical techniques complement each other for the analysis of toxic chemical compounds. Fluxapyroxad was commercialized a few years ago as a fungicide and today it is being used worldwide to control a variety of pests. In the present study, the development of monoclonal antibody-based immunochemical methods for the analysis of this chemical in food samples was evaluated for the first time. Novel haptens were synthesized and protein bioconjugates were prepared. High-affinity and specific monoclonal antibodies to fluxapyroxad were generated from two haptens with alternative linker tethering sites. Haptens with linker site heterology and a structurally heterologous hapten with a minor modification of the molecule conformation and volume but with a significant alteration of the electronic density of the pyrazole moiety were evaluated for immunoassay development. Direct and indirect competitive immunoassays were characterized and optimized, showing IC50 values for fluxapyroxad of 0.14 and 0.05 ng mL-1, respectively. The combination of two heterologies was particularly adequate in the indirect format. The two developed immunoassays showed excellent recoveries and coefficients of variation in fluxapyroxad-fortified plums and four varieties of grapes. Finally, a good correlation was found between the indirect immunoassay and UPLC-MS/MS when fruit samples with incurred residues of fluxapyroxad were analyzed. These monoclonal antibody-based immunochemical methods hold great promise for fluxapyroxad monitoring.

Fenbuconazole exposure impacts the development of zebrafish embryos

Fenbuconazole (FBZ), a triazole-containing fungicide, is widely used in agriculture and horticulture. In the present study, the development and cardiac functioning were observed and determined in zebrafish embryos exposed to FBZ at 5, 50 and 500 ng/L nominal concentrations for 72 h. The results showed that 500 ng/L FBZ significantly increased pericardial edema rate, spine curvature rate, disturbed cardiac function, and led a shortened lower jaw. The transcription of genes such as tbx5, nkx2.5, tnnt2, gata4, bmp2b, myl7 was altered, which might be responsible for the cardiac developmental and functioning defects in the larvae. The deformation in bone development might be related with the impaired transcription levels of shh and bmp2b. The transcription of cyp26a1 (encoding retinoic acid metabolism enzyme) was significantly up-regulated in the 500 ng/L group, which might be a reason causing the teratogenic effect of FBZ. These results suggest that FBZ could have toxic effects on embryonic development, which should be considered in the risk evaluation of FBZ application.

The 2016 European Union report on pesticide residues in food

This report provides an insight into the official control activities carried out by EU Member States, Iceland and Norway in 2016. Based on the analytical results provided by the reporting countries, a detailed data analysis was performed regarding pesticide occurrence in the most important food products consumed and the dietary risk related to the exposure of European consumers to pesticide residues. Overall, 96.2% of the 84,657 samples analysed fell within the legal limits (81,482 samples). In total, 50.7% of the tested samples were free of quantifiable residues (residue levels below the limit of quantification (LOQ)), while 45.5% of the samples analysed contained quantified residues not exceeding the maximum residue levels (MRLs). The findings on pesticide residues are described for the following categories: products of plant origin, products of animal origin, imported food, organic products and baby food. The acute and chronic dietary risk assessment indicated that the probability of European citizens being exposed to pesticide residue levels that could lead to negative health outcomes was low. Based on the analysis of the 2016 pesticide monitoring results, EFSA derived a number of recommendations to increase the efficiency of the European control systems to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2018.EN-1454/full

Reporting data on pesticide residues in food and feed according to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (2017 data collection)

According to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed, Member States have to monitor pesticide residue levels in food samples and submit the monitoring results to EFSA and the European Commission. The Standard Sample Description (SSD, version 1) is the data model used for reporting the data on analytical measurements of chemical substances occurring in food, feed and water to EFSA. This document is a consolidated version of the past 3 years’ guidance defining the appropriate SSD codes to describe the samples and the analytical results and it gives directions for the reporting of the pesticide residues monitoring data starting with the data generated in 2017 onwards. These provisions take into account the experience of both the previous reporting seasons and the new legislation applicable in 2017.

Metabolic Effects of a Chronic Dietary Exposure to a Low-Dose Pesticide Cocktail in Mice: Sexual Dimorphism and Role of the Constitutive Androstane Receptor

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological evidence suggests a link between pesticide exposure and the development of metabolic diseases. However, most experimental studies have evaluated the metabolic effects of pesticides using individual molecules, often at nonrelevant doses or in combination with other risk factors such as high-fat diets.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate, in mice, the metabolic consequences of chronic dietary exposure to a pesticide mixture at nontoxic doses, relevant to consumers' risk assessment.

METHODS

A mixture of six pesticides commonly used in France, i.e., boscalid, captan, chlorpyrifos, thiofanate, thiacloprid, and ziram, was incorporated in a standard chow at doses exposing mice to the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of each pesticide. Wild-type (WT) and constitutive androstane receptor-deficient (CAR-/-) male and female mice were exposed for 52 wk. We assessed metabolic parameters [body weight (BW), food and water consumption, glucose tolerance, urinary metabolome] throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, we evaluated liver metabolism (histology, transcriptomics, metabolomics, lipidomics) and pesticide detoxification using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

RESULTS

Compared to those fed control chow, WT male mice fed pesticide chow had greater BW gain and more adiposity. Moreover, these WT males fed pesticide chow exhibited characteristics of hepatic steatosis and glucose intolerance, which were not observed in those fed control chow. WT exposed female mice exhibited fasting hyperglycemia, higher reduced glutathione (GSH):oxidized glutathione (GSSG) liver ratio and perturbations of gut microbiota-related urinary metabolites compared to WT mice fed control chow. When we performed these experiments on CAR-/- mice, pesticide-exposed CAR-/- males did not exhibit BW gain or changes in glucose metabolism compared to the CAR-/- males fed control chow. Moreover, CAR-/- females fed pesticide chow exhibited pesticide toxicity with higher BWs and mortality rate compared to the CAR-/- females fed control chow.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate a sexually dimorphic obesogenic and diabetogenic effect of chronic dietary exposure to a common mixture of pesticides at TDI levels, and to provide evidence for a partial role for CAR in an in vivo mouse model. This raises questions about the relevance of TDI for individual pesticides when present in a mixture. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2877.

Six months exposure to a real life mixture of 13 chemicals' below individual NOAELs induced non monotonic sex-dependent biochemical and redox status changes in rats

This study assessed the potential adverse health effects of long-term low-dose exposure to chemical mixtures simulating complex real-life human exposures. Four groups of Sprague Dawley rats were administered mixtures containing carbaryl, dimethoate, glyphosate, methomyl, methyl parathion, triadimefon, aspartame, sodium benzoate, calcium disodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate, ethylparaben, butylparaben, bisphenol A, and acacia gum at doses of 0, 0.25, 1 or 5 times the respective Toxicological Reference Values (TRV): acceptable daily intake (ADI) or tolerable daily intake (TDI) in a 24 weeks toxicity study. Body weight gain, feed and water consumption were evaluated weekly. At 24 weeks blood was collected and biochemistry parameters and redox status markers were assessed. Adverse effects were observed on body weight gain and in hepatotoxic parameters such as the total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), especially in low dose and affecting mainly male rats. The low dose group showed increased catalase activity both in females and males, whereas the high dose group exhibited decreased protein carbonyl and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in both sex groups. Non-monotonic effects and adaptive responses on liver function tests and redox status, leading to non-linear dose-responses curves, are probably produced by modulation of different mechanisms.

A non-targeted metabolomic approach to identify food markers to support discrimination between organic and conventional tomato crops

In the last decade, the consumption trend of organic food has increased dramatically worldwide. However, the lack of reliable chemical markers to discriminate between organic and conventional products makes this market susceptible to food fraud in products labeled as "organic". Metabolomic fingerprinting approach has been demonstrated as the best option for a full characterization of metabolome occurring in plants, since their pattern may reflect the impact of both endogenous and exogenous factors. In the present study, advanced technologies based on high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRAMS) has been used for marker search in organic and conventional tomatoes grown in greenhouse under controlled agronomic conditions. The screening of unknown compounds comprised the retrospective analysis of all tomato samples throughout the studied period and data processing using databases (mzCloud, ChemSpider and PubChem). In addition, stable nitrogen isotope analysis (δ¹⁵N) was assessed as a possible indicator to support discrimination between both production systems using crop/fertilizer correlations. Pesticide residue analyses were also applied as a well-established way to evaluate the organic production. Finally, the evaluation by combined chemometric analysis of high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAMS) and δ¹⁵N data provided a robust classification model in accordance with the agricultural practices. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a sample clustering according to farming systems and significant differences in the sample profile was observed for six bioactive components (L-tyrosyl-L-isoleucyl-L-threonyl-L-threonine, trilobatin, phloridzin, tomatine, phloretin and echinenone).

Pesticide Residues in Food: Attitudes, Beliefs, and Misconceptions among Conventional and Organic Consumers

Pesticide use and pesticide residues in foods have been the subject of controversial public discussions and media coverage in Germany. Against this background, a better understanding of public risk perceptions is needed to promote efficient public health communication. To this end, this study captures the German public's perception of pesticide residues in foods. A representative sample of the population aged 14 years and older (n = 1,004) was surveyed via computer-assisted telephone interviewing on their attitudes and knowledge with regard to pesticide residues. Based on questions regarding their typical consumer behavior, respondents were classified into conventional and organic consumers to identify differences as well as similarities between these two consumer types. As assessed with an open-ended question, both organic and conventional consumers viewed pesticides, chemicals, and toxins as the greatest threats to food quality and safety. Evaluating the risks and benefits of pesticide use, more than two-thirds of organic consumers (70%) rated the risks as greater than the benefits, compared with just over one-half of conventional consumers (53%). Concern about the detection of pesticide residues in the food chain and bodily fluids was significantly higher among organic compared with conventional consumers. Only a minority of respondents was aware that legal limits for pesticide residues (referred to as maximum residue levels) exist, with 69% of organic and 61% of conventional consumers believing that the presence of pesticide residues in foods is generally not permitted. A lack of awareness of maximum residue levels was associated with heightened levels of concern about pesticide residues. Finally, general exposure to media reporting on pesticide residues was associated with more frequent knowledge of legal limits for pesticide residues, whereas actively seeking information on pesticide residues was not. The possible mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.

Human health implications of organic food and organic agriculture: a comprehensive review

This review summarises existing evidence on the impact of organic food on human health. It compares organic vs. conventional food production with respect to parameters important to human health and discusses the potential impact of organic management practices with an emphasis on EU conditions. Organic food consumption may reduce the risk of allergic disease and of overweight and obesity, but the evidence is not conclusive due to likely residual confounding, as consumers of organic food tend to have healthier lifestyles overall. However, animal experiments suggest that identically composed feed from organic or conventional production impacts in different ways on growth and development. In organic agriculture, the use of pesticides is restricted, while residues in conventional fruits and vegetables constitute the main source of human pesticide exposures. Epidemiological studies have reported adverse effects of certain pesticides on children's cognitive development at current levels of exposure, but these data have so far not been applied in formal risk assessments of individual pesticides. Differences in the composition between organic and conventional crops are limited, such as a modestly higher content of phenolic compounds in organic fruit and vegetables, and likely also a lower content of cadmium in organic cereal crops. Organic dairy products, and perhaps also meats, have a higher content of omega-3 fatty acids compared to conventional products. However, these differences are likely of marginal nutritional significance. Of greater concern is the prevalent use of antibiotics in conventional animal production as a key driver of antibiotic resistance in society; antibiotic use is less intensive in organic production. Overall, this review emphasises several documented and likely human health benefits associated with organic food production, and application of such production methods is likely to be beneficial within conventional agriculture, e.g., in integrated pest management.

Occurrence of imidacloprid, carbendazim, and other biocides in Italian house dust: Potential relevance for intakes in children and pets

The occurrence of pesticides intended for non-agricultural use was investigated in 206 dust samples drawn from vacuum-cleaner bags from residential flats in Italy. The multi-residue analysis targeted on 95 different active principles was performed with UPLC-MS/MS, with a Limit of Quantification (LOQ) of 0.008 μg/g dry weight. The results indicated the presence of imidacloprid (IMI) and carbendazim (CARB) in 30% and 26% of the samples, with a mean and P95 concentration between 1.6 and 39 and between 0.08 and 4.9 μg/g, respectively. Combined presence of two biocides was noted in 19.4% samples, of three biocides in 9.2% samples, of four biocides in 3.4% samples, and of five and six biocides in 0.5% and 1% samples, respectively. According to the estimated dust intake in infants/toddlers aged 6-24 months (16-100 mg d^-1) and cats (200 mg d^-1), it was possible to obtain risk characterization with respect to the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for IMI of 0.060 mg/kg body weight (bw) proposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the chronic Population Adjusted Dose (cPAD) of 0.019 mg/kg bw d^-1 by US-EPA. Under the worst-case scenario, the presence of IMI in dust indicates potential exceedance of the cPAD in kittens, to be considered as sentinel also accounting for combined exposure. This study highlights the relevance of consumer empowerment about the responsible use of pesticides as biocidal products in indoor environment.