DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES (INSECTICIDES) IN APPLES AND DIETARY RISK ASSESSMENT

Vezirka JANKULOSKA, Ilija KAROV, Gorica PAVLOVSKA

Abstract

Fruit is an inevitable part of a balanced diet due to the presence of bioactive components, dietary fibres, vitamins, and minerals. Apples, as a crop primarly grown in the Resen region, are frequently consumed by both local residents and a wider global audience, as they are exported to other countries from this region. Throughout their cultivation, apples are treated with pesticides to ensure disease protection and maximize income. Consequently, the quantity of pesticide residues, as well as the quality and safety of apples, consistently garner significant attention within the realm of science, particularly in the context of risk assessment and their potential impact on health. To address these concerns, an analysis of thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and imidacloprid in apples was conducted using the UPLC-TQ/MS method, following prior extraction through the QuEChERS method. Risk assessments were performed using established benchmarks such as the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and the Acute Reference Dose (ArfD). After processing the data and performing the assessment, it can be noted that the value of HQa (acute risk), HQc (chronic risk) as well as the cumulative risk of most pesticides (HI) detected in apples is less than 1 and there is no risk to the health of adults and the children. We suggest a reasonable use of pesticides and respecting the pre-harvest interval (PHI) to better protect the health of consumers.

Pages: 96 - 101