Assessment of the risk of adverse effects of different pesticide groups for humans consuming apples and grapes treated with pesticides

Abstract

The aim: To assess the risk of adverse effects of various groups of pesticides for humans, consuming apples and grapes (treated by pesticides). Materials and methods: The gas-liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy and tandem chromatography– mass spectrometry methods were used for the quantitative calculation of pesticides in apples and grapes. The possible intake of pesticides (with mentioned products) and the integral indicator of danger during their consumption were considered, while assessing the risk for the people consuming apples. Results: It has been proven, that the processes of pesticide decomposition in growing agricultural crops (apples, grapes) occur according to an exponential model. The half-life periods of the studied pesticides in agricultural plants were established. And in terms of stability, the studied substances are moderately stable. An exception is bifenthrin – a persistent pesticide. The calculated risk values of dangerous exposure to pesticides, when consuming apples and grapes, treated with pesticides, were 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the permitted level, and ranged from 2.0×10 -3 to 7.8×10 -2 . Most pesticides are moderately dangerous, according to the value of the integrated indicator of danger, during the product consumption, except for the kresoxim-methyl and clothianidin, which are not very dangerous. Conclusions: The obtained results should be taken into account, considering the issue of expanding the pesticides application field, based on the studied substances, and the necessity for monitoring studies.