Evaluation of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from Algeria

ABSTRACT

A total of 160 samples of 13 types of fresh fruits and vegetables from domestic production and import were analysed to detect the presence of pesticide residues. Analysis was performed by multi-residual extraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In 42.5% of the tested samples, no residues were found and 12.5% of samples contained pesticide residues above maximum residue limits. Risk assessment for long-term exposure was done for all pesticides detected in this study. Except chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin, exposure to pesticides from vegetables and fruits was below 1% of the acceptable daily intake. Short-term exposure assessment revealed that in seven pesticide/commodity combinations, including three pesticides (chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin), the acute reference dose had been exceeded.

KEYWORDS:

• Pesticide residues
• fruits
• vegetables
• long-term exposure
• short-term exposure

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the National Institute of Plant Protection (INPV) for providing pesticide standards.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.