title: Consumer exposure to pesticide residues in apples from the region of south-eastern Poland.
abstract: The production of apples in Poland is the largest among the countries of the European Union, and therefore, the consumption of these fruits is high in our country. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of pesticide residues in Polish apples and to assess if these residues pose a risk to the health of the consumer. Furthermore, compliance with legal regulations concerning the use of plant protection products in crop cultivation was ascertained. Pesticide residues were found in 192 samples (61.5% of tested samples). In six samples (1.9%), residues exceeded maximum residue limits. Violations concerned the insecticides: indoxacarb, diazinon and fenitrothion. The highest long-term consumer exposure was found in the case of consumption of apples with diazinon residue for both groups, adults and toddlers [4% acceptable daily intake (ADI), adults; 21% ADI, toddlers]. The highest values of short-term exposure were obtained in the case of consumption of apples with indoxacarb [5% acute reference dose (ARfD), adults; 27% ARfD, toddlers] and fenitrothion (4% ARfD, adults; 23% ARfD, toddlers). Although fungicides are the pesticides found most often in apples, the consumption of apples with insecticide residues constitutes the greatest hazard to human health.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pesticide Residue Analysis, Regional Experimental Station in Rzeszow, Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, ul. Langiewicza 28, 35-101, Rzeszow, Poland, e.szpyrka@iorpib.poznan.pl.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szpyrka
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurdziel
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słowik-Borowiec
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzegorzak
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matyaszek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010573:Pesticide Residues