Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues in tomatoes and cucumbers traded in Fayoum governorate markets, Egypt

El Sherif, Doaa F.; Elabasy, Nada N.; Sayed, Makram A.

doi:10.21608/fjard.2024.315197.1063

Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues in tomatoes and cucumbers traded in Fayoum governorate markets, Egypt

Document Type : Research articles.

Authors

Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt

10.21608/fjard.2024.315197.1063

Abstract

Tomato and cucumber are considered the most economically important vegetables in the world and are commonly consumed as fresh or raw. Pesticide residues in these vegetables pose health risks for humans. In this study, we detected 19 pesticides in a total of 36 samples of tomatoes and cucumbers from local markets in Egypt's Fayoum governorate using QuEChERS kits for sample extraction and clean-up, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifteen and fourteen pesticide residues were detected in tomatoes and cucumbers, respectively, in the collected samples from Fayoum markets with concentrations above the maximum residue limits (MRL). A few pesticide residues were below the detection limit in samples from Itsa and Abshway markets. Moreover, the potential health risks for detected pesticides were assessed using the health risk index. Ethoprophos, chlorfenvinphos, terbufos, and atrazine showed the highest health risk index values in most samples. Thus, this study concluded the importance of continuous monitoring and adequate supervision at local vegetable markets.

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