title: A review on the fate of pesticides during the processes within the food-production Chain.
abstract: Only the intake of toxicologically-significant amounts can lead to adverse health effects even for a relatively toxic substance. In the case of residues in foods this is based on two major aspects--first, how to determine quantitatively the presence of a pollutant in individual foods and diets, including its fate during the processes within the food production chain; and second, how to determine the consumption patterns of the individual foods containing the relevant pollutants. The techniques used for the evaluation of the fate of pesticides during food processing have been critically reviewed in this paper to determine those areas where improvements are needed or desirable. Options for improvements are being suggested, including, for example, the development of a pan-European food composition database, activities to understand better effects of processing on individual food pesticides, and harmonization of food consumption survey methods with the option of a regular pan-European survey. The ultimate aim is to obtain appropriate estimations for the presence and quantity of a given chemical in a food and in the diet in general. Existing pragmatic approaches are a first crude step to model food pollutant intake. It is recommended to extend, refine, and validate this approach in the near future. This has to result in a cost-effective exposure-assessment system to be used for existing and potential categories of pollutants. This system of knowledge (with information on sensitivities, accuracy, etc.) will guide future data collection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Food Science and Technology Faculty, University of Vigo–Ourense Campus, E-32004 Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: González-Rodríguez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rial-Otero
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cancho-Grande
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Barreiro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simal-Gándara
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants