title: Pesticide residues and estrogenic activity in fruit and vegetables sampled from major fresh produce markets in South Africa.
abstract: Food is likely to be one of the major pathways through which people are exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. With the exception of residual effects, there are concerns that a number of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals exert adverse effects upon endocrine systems in wildlife and humans. The current study reports selected pesticide concentrations and the total estrogenic activity of fruit and vegetables using the recombinant yeast oestrogen screen (YES) and T47D-KBluc reporter gene assays. A total of 53 food samples (27 fruit and 26 vegetables) from Johannesburg and Tshwane fresh produce markets (in South Africa) were analysed. Of these, 17 contained one to three different pesticide residues with concentrations ranging between 0.01 and 0.68 mg kg(-1), whereas in the rest of the samples no residues were detected. All pesticides detected except in one sample were below the maximum residue level (MRL), but others were unauthorised for use in specified fruit and vegetables. Estrogenic activity was detected in 26.4% (14 samples) of the samples tested, and the estradiol equivalents ranged from 0.007 to 2 pg g(-1). Although the estrogenic activity was low, it may contribute to adverse health effects. Continuous monitoring for pesticides in fruit and vegetables is important in view of the unauthorised pesticides detected in produce from South Africa and the endocrine-disrupting chemical activity found.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plant and Crop Sciences, Institute for Food Nutrition and Well-Being , University of Pretoria , Pretoria , South Africa.
authors.forename: Mbulaheni Thomas
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mutengwe
authors.affiliation: b Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Natalie Hildegard
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Aneck-Hahn
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plant and Crop Sciences, Institute for Food Nutrition and Well-Being , University of Pretoria , Pretoria , South Africa.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Korsten
authors.affiliation: b Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Magdalena Catherina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Van Zijl
authors.affiliation: b Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Jager
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005523:Food Supply; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D013019:South Africa; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D010573:Pesticide Residues
keywords: Fresh produce; T47D-KBluc; agricultural chemicals; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; estrogenic activity; yeast oestrogen screen