Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Apples

【Objective】Risk assessment of pesticide residues in apples will provide a scientific basis for apple consumption, apple pesticide residue supervision, and establishment of maximum residue limits(MRLs) for pesticides in apple. 【Method】Residues of 102 pesticides in 200 apple samples from main producing areas in China were detected. Chronic dietary intake risk and acute dietary intake risk of pesticide residues in these samples were assessed, respectively, by %ADI and %ARfD. Estimated maximum residue limits(eMRLs) of 26 pesticides with detectable residues were calculated by ADIs, large portion of apple, and body weight of consumer. The Matrix Ranking developed by the Veterinary Residues Committee of the United Kingdom was referred to rank the risk of pesticides and apple samples.【Result】25.5% of pesticides(26/102) and 89.5% of apple samples(179/200) had detectable residues. 0.5% of apple samples contained residue above the MRL(of omethoate). For 26 pesticides with detectable residues, their chronic dietary intake risks expressed as %ADI were 0.00%-1.07% with an average of 0.13%, and their acute dietary intake risks expressed as %ARfD were 0.18%-22.41% with an average of 4.12%. These 26 pesticides were divided into 3 groups by risk score, i.e. high risk group(8 pesticides), medium risk group(10 pesticides), and low risk group(8 pesticides). Apple samples studied were ranked by risk index, 1.5% of which had high pesticide residue risk, and 98.5% of which had medium, low, or lower pesticide residue risk. Among 26 pesticides with detectable residues, it is unnecessary for chlorbenzuron to establish MRL in apple, MRLs of 6 pesticides(e.g. flusilazole) are overly strict, MRLs of 5 pesticides(e.g. dimethoate) are overly loose, and MRLs of 18 pesticides(including chlormequat, difenoconazole, tebufenozide, diazinon, flusilazole, thiophanate-methyl, dimethoate, bifenthrin, cyhalothrin, fenvalerate, propargite, buprofezin, dicofol, methidathion, tebuconazole, diniconazole, phosmet, and imazali) were proposed to be 4, 1, 2, 0.5, 0.6, 7, 0.2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 0.8, 0.2, 0.1, 3, 0.5, 1, and 3 mg·kg-1, respectively.【Conclusion】Pesticide residues in Chinese apples had a relatively high detection rate, but pesticide residues in 99.5% of samples were under MRLs. Both chronic and acute dietary intake risks of pesticide residues in Chinese apples were very low. Residues of 8 pesticides in apples should be focused on, including omethoate, phosphamidon, methidathion, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, bifenthrin, phosmet, and dimethoate. And MRLs for 18 pesticides(e.g. chlormequat) in apples were proposed to be established or revised.