Pesticide residues in Tunisian table grapes and associated risk for consumer’s health

ABSTRACT

Sixty-four table grape samples from different regions of Tunisia were collected during three consecutive years (2015–2017). The presence of 96 pesticides, including dithiocarbamates, was assessed. Pesticides identification and quantification were performed by liquid or gas chromatography, coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. All samples contained multiple residues (4 to 24 residues), with an average of 11.6 residues per sample. Individual concentrations of pesticides in grapes ranged from 0.01 to 5.86 mg kg⁻¹. For at least one chemical compound, exceedances of the European Maximum Residue Limits were found in 94% of the samples. To assess the potential risk of pesticides through consumption of grapes, the acute exposure was estimated by the determination of predicted short term intake which is expressed as a percentage of Acute Reference Dose (ARfD), for non-compliances of pesticides. The exceedance of ARfD was associated with carbofuran, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, dimethoate and omethoate. Consequently, these pesticides could present a risk for consumer’s health.

KEYWORDS:

• Fruit
• pesticide residues
• grapes

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Martine Deridder, Jessica Marchi, and Wendy Brian, Technicians at Sciensano, for the daily pesticides standard management.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.