Organophosphorus pesticide residues in Greek virgin olive oil: levels, dietary intake and risk assessment

Abstract

The occurrence of organophosphorus pesticide (OPs) and their metabolite residues was investigated in 167 samples of Greek virgin olive oil during a 2-year (2004–2005) sampling campaign. A total of 30.5% of samples contained detectable residues, although only one sample contained dimethoate residues above the maximum residue limit. Among the seven detected OPs, fenthion and fenthion sulfoxide residues were detected in 10.8 and 14.4% of the samples, respectively, at levels of 0.003–0.61 mg kg⁻¹. Dimethoate was detected in 10.2% of the samples at 0.003–0.057 mg kg⁻¹. The acute dietary risk assessment was undertaken by determining the national estimated short-term intake (NESTI); for chronic dietary risk assessment, the national theoretical maximum daily intake (NTMDI) and national estimated daily intake (NEDI) were calculated. The estimated intakes (NESTI and NEDI) of each pesticide were <7 and <0.86% of the corresponding acute reference doses (ARfDs) and acceptable daily intakes (ADIs), respectively. A cumulative risk assessment was performed using the hazard index (HI) and toxicity equivalence factor (TEF), taking into account that OPs share the same toxicological mechanism. The determined HI and TEF values were found to represent only a small portion of the respective ADIs or ARfDs. These results indicate that there is neither acute nor chronic risk for the Greek population through olive oil consumption.

Keywords:

• olive oil
• pesticides
• monitoring
• dietary intake
• risk assessment

Acknowledgements

This research was co-funded by the European Union in the framework of the program “Pythagoras I” of the “Operational Program for Education and Initial Vocational Training” of the 3rd Community Support Framework of the Hellenic Ministry of Education, 25% funded from national sources and 75% from the European Social Fund (ESF).