Residues levels of pesticides in walnuts of Iran and associated health risks

Abstract

The concentrations of 18 organophosphorus, carbamate, pyrethroid, and nicotinoid pesticides were measured, by use of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometry, in six cultivars of walnut from five geographical regions of Iran, including, Azarshahr, Damavand, Farouj, Shahmirzad, and Tuyserkan. Assessments of risks posed to humans were conducted by calculating the hazard indices (HIs), by use of the Monte Carlo Simulations. The 95th centile of HIs for humans based on exposure via ingestion of walnuts was estimated to be 1.68, which represented di minimis to moderate concern for human consumers. The most influential parameters, determined by sensitivity analysis conducted during the MCS, was concentration, which ranged from 0.71to 0.97. The results indicate that while the walnuts are, in general safe to eat, uses of organophosphorus, pesticides on walnut cultivation in Iran is not completely without risks so that guidelines should be established and a monitoring program should be established.

Keywords:

• contaminants
• hazard index
• Monte Carlo simulation
• risk assessment
• sensitivity analysis

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

Disclosure statement

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Prof. Giesy was supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and a Distinguished, Visiting Professorship from Baylor University.