Comprehensive analysis and risk assessment of pyrethroid pesticide residues in the market-sold fruits from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China.

Abstract

The extensive use of pyrethroid pesticides (PYs) in agriculture has raised serious concerns about food safety. This study systematically investigated PY residues in 3018 market-sold fruit samples collected from three major cities (Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang) of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region in China. Fourteen different PYs were detected in 739 samples (24.49%), with allethrin showing the highest detection rate (8.15%). Notably, residue concentrations in nine samples exceeded China's MRLs, corresponding to three orange samples (two with bifenthrin and one with lambda-cyhalothrin), three mandarin samples (all with bifenthrin), two grape samples (both with cypermethrin), and one mango sample (with cypermethrin). Risk assessment revealed that while chronic exposure risks were all below safety threshold (HQc < 1), acute exposure to specific PYs in certain fruit species posed unacceptable risks (HQa > 1), particularly for children. Cyfluthrin in grapes consistently exhibited the highest acute risk for both children (HQa = 5.58) and adults (HQa = 3.35). Although chronic cumulative risks of the multiple PY residues in all fruits species were acceptable (HIc < 1), acute cumulative risks were unacceptable (HIa > 1) in six fruit species (grape, peach, mango, mandarin, plum, and orange) for children and in four (grape, mandarin, peach, and mango) for adults. Additionally, lambda-cyhalothrin in fruits from Beijing posed potential non-carcinogenic health hazards for children (THQ = 2.52) and adolescents (THQ = 1.64). These findings offer critical insights into PY residues and associated health risks in fruits from BTH region, providing a scientific basis for enhancing public health guidance and strengthening regulatory frameworks to ensure food safety.