title: Pesticide residues in raw agricultural products from the south-eastern region of Poland and the acute risk assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of pesticide leads to the increase in quantity and quality of yields, but may also result in presence of toxic contaminants in food products.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate presence of pesticide residues in raw agricultural products from the south-eastern region of Poland, to verify their compliance with the maximum residue levels' (MRLs) as specified in the EU regulations concerning products present in the market, and to assess the acute risk related to consumption of these products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of raw agricultural products were obtained from production farms as a part of an official premarket monitoring of pesticide residues conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, implemented in cooperation with the regional Inspectorates of Plant Health and Seed Inspection. The scheduled tests covered determination of 243 chemicals included in residue definitions for purposes of pesticide residues monitoring in or on food of plant origin (229 pesticides).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2015, a total of 328 samples of raw commodities collected from the south-eastern region of Poland were analysed for the presence of pesticide residues. Pesticide residues were detected in 84 samples (25.6%), while in 7 samples (2.1%) they exceeded MRLs. Violations of MRLs concerned 2 samples of Peking Cabbage, 3 samples of dill, 1 sample of raspberry and 1 sample of spinach. The pesticide residues were most often found in: fruit (38.3% of all fruit samples), herbs (35.3%) and vegetables (20.0%). The assessed acute exposure did not exceed the 100% acute reference dose (ARfD) in any sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monitoring of pesticide residues in the agricultural crops prevents penetration of products with MRLs exceeded or containing unacceptable pesticide residues into the market, thus protecting consumers' health.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  pesticide residues, agricultural products, risk assessment, multiresidue method.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, Regional Experimental Station in Rzeszów, M. Langiewicza Street 28, 35-101 Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szpyrka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, Regional Experimental Station in Rzeszów, M. Langiewicza Street 28, 35-101 Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słowik-Borowiec
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, Regional Experimental Station in Rzeszów, M. Langiewicza Street 28, 35-101 Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matyaszek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, Regional Experimental Station in Rzeszów, M. Langiewicza Street 28, 35-101 Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podbielska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute, Regional Experimental Station in Rzeszów, M. Langiewicza Street 28, 35-101 Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rupar
mesh_terms: D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000592:standards; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005502:Food / Q000592:standards; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry*; D011044:Poland
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides