Health risk assessment from dermal exposure to pesticide residues on vegetables among greengrocers in fresh market, Bangkok, Thailand

ABSTRACT

Pesticide residues (PRs) in market vegetables have been reported regularly. Greengrocers may be exposed to several sorts of PRs on vegetables through hand contact. Health risk assessment from occupational exposure to PRs on vegetables is particularly concerning. This study was conducted among 91 vegetable vendors at a large fresh market in Bangkok. Hand wipe samples were collected in the dry season to extract and analyze PRs including organophosphates (OPs), pyrethroids (PYs), and carbamates (CAs) by gas chromatography (GC-FPD/GC-μECD) and liquid chromatography (LC–MS). The results showed that all wipe samples contained OPs, PYs, and CAs, mainly chlorpyrifos (0.01–0.14 µg/hands) and cypermethrin (0.42–11.64 µg/hands). The frequently detected PRs were aldicarb (87.2%), carbofuran (69.2%), permethrin (63.7%), and profenofos (60.0%). At 99th percentile values of PR exposure, average daily dose was 2.42 × 10⁻⁵ mg/kg/d and hazard index did not exceed the acceptable level (0.287). Glove wearing, hand washing, and work-related factors were significantly associated with PRs on hands after adjusted for gender (p-value < 0.05). Greengrocers may therefore not be at risk from PRs on vegetables and exposure via hands during their work. However, these findings suggest that proper personal hygiene practices among greengrocers should be considered to prevent them from PR exposure and potential health risks.

KEYWORDS:

• risk assessment
• dermal exposure
• pesticide residues
• vegetables
• greengrocers

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the greengrocers of Padung Krung Kasem market for their assistance and encouragement.

Funding

This study was supported by the Grant for Aging Society Cluster, Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund (CU-57-078-AS), Grant for International Research Integration: Chula Research Scholar, Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund (GCURS 59-06-79-01), Chulalongkorn University, NIH-NIEHS CEED P30 ES005022, and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University. College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University is also acknowledged.