Assessment of combined exposures to multiple chemicals: pesticides, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons levels in fig fruits

ABSTRACT

People are exposed to various chemicals originating from different sources. In Iran, some fig orchards near roads are exposed to a variety of chemicals released from various pollution sources. In this study, we analysed levels of pesticides, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 540 fig samples using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES) and assessed the risk posed to Iranian consumers through oral consumption of the fruit. We found no significant associations between the contaminant levels and cultivars or cultivation zones. Hazard quotients (HQs) were calculated to be less than 1.0 for all pesticide residues. In probabilistic risk assessment, hazard index (HI) at the 50 and 95^th centiles were 4.46 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.03 × 10⁻³, respectively. The HI and Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risks (ILCRs) for metals indicated de minimis risk. Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) for the estimation of the 50 and 95% cancer risk due to PAHs exposure showed de minimis risk in terms of margins of exposure (MoE) and ILCRs. For PAHs exposure, estimated ILCRs were 6.23 × 10⁻¹³ and 9.94 × 10⁻¹³ at the 50th and 95th centiles, respectively. Based on MCS model, MoE values at the 50^th and 95^th centiles were 1.07 × 10¹² and 2.10 × 10¹², respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that contaminants concentration had the greatest impact on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment. It could be concluded that consumption of fig cultivated in Iran poses no health risk.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-exist
• exposure assessment
• mode of action
• predictive methodology
• risk assessment framework

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).