Estimated dietary pesticide exposure from plant-based foods using NMF-derived profiles in a large sample of French adults

Purpose This study, conducted in participants of the NutriNet-Sante cohort, aims to identify dietary pesticide exposure profiles (derived from Non-negative Matrix Factorization) from conventional and organic foods among a large sample of general population French adults. Methods Organic and conventional dietary intakes were assessed using a self-administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Exposure to 25 commonly used pesticides was evaluated using food contamination data from Chemisches und Veterinaruntersuchungsamt Stuttgart accounting for farming system (organic or conventional). Dietary pesticide exposure profiles were identified using Non-Negative Matrix factorization (NMF), especially adapted for non-negative data with excess zeros. The NMF scores were introduced in a hierarchical clustering process. Results Overall, the identified clusters (N = 34,193) seemed to be exposed to the same compounds with gradual intensity. Cluster 1 displayed the lowest energy intake and estimated dietary pesticide exposure, high organic food (OF) consumption (23.3%) and a higher proportion of male participants than other groups. Clusters 2 and 5 presented intermediate energy intake, lower OF consumption and intermediate estimated pesticide exposure. Cluster 3 showed high conventional fruits and vegetable (FV) intake, high estimated pesticide exposure, and fewer smokers. Cluster 4 estimated pesticide exposure varied more across compounds than for other clusters, with highest estimated exposures for acetamiprid, azadirachtin, cypermethrin, pyrethrins, spinosad. OF proportion in the diet was the highest (31.5%). Conclusion Estimated dietary pesticide exposures appeared to vary across the clusters and to be related to OF proportion in the diet.

Automated summary

This study aimed to identify dietary pesticide exposure profiles from conventional and organic foods among a large sample of French adults. The results showed that dietary pesticide exposures varied across different clusters and were related to the proportion of organic food in the diet.