Pesticide residues in fruit juice in Serbia: Occurrence and health risk estimates

The occurrence of pesticide residues in food and the consequent health risks attract considerable attention. The current study comprised 139 samples of fruit juice present on the Serbian market. Out of 69 pesticide active substances analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation, 19 were detected, ranging from 0.001 to 0.629 mg/kg, most frequently these were carbendazim, acetamiprid and pyrimethanil. Almost 60 % of 71.2 % of positive samples contained multiple residues, up to 6. Residues of unapproved pesticides were detected in 2.9 % of samples, while the percentage of samples not in compliance with the permitted maximum levels was 2.2 %. The probability of exceeding the toxicological reference value was insignificant for any of the pesticides assessed in any of the consumer groups considered, with the exception of adolescents acutely exposed to carbofuran (113 % of ARfD). Chronic cumulative exposure to triazole pesticides showed very low risk, regardless of the applied approach - Hazard Index or Relative Potency Factors, used to scale the exposure relative to cyproconazole as the index compound for hepatotoxic effects. An estimate of the lifetime cancer risk attributable to the presence of carcinogenic pesticides in fruit juice was sufficiently protective, corresponding to a total of 0.013 additional cancer cases annually.

Automated summary

The study analyzed 139 samples of fruit juice on the Serbian market, detecting pesticide residues in most samples, with some containing multiple residues and 2.9% of samples having unapproved pesticides. While there may be potential health risks in certain cases, overall the consumption of fruit juice poses a low risk of cancer.