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Pesticide residues in fresh fruits imported into the United Arab Emirates.

Authors :: Osaili TM
Al Sallagi MS
Dhanasekaran DK
Bani Odeh WAM
Al Ali HJ
Al Ali AASA
Cheikh Ismail L
Al Mehri KO
Pisharath VA
Holley R
Obaid RS
Source :: Heliyon [Heliyon] 2022 Nov 29; Vol. 8 (12), pp. e11946. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Nov 29 (Print Publication: 2022).
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: Pesticides are a major public health issue connected with excessive use because they negatively impact health and the environment. Pesticide toxicity has been connected to various human illnesses by means of pesticide exposure in direct or indirect ways. A total of 4513 samples of imported fresh fruits were collected from Dubai ports between 2018 to 2020. Their contamination by pesticides was evaluated using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The display of monitoring results was based on the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) standard as per the procedures of the European Union. Eighty-one different pesticide residues were detected in the tested fruit samples. In 73.2% of the samples, the pesticide levels were ≥ MRL, while 26.8% were > MRL standards. Chlorpyrifos, carbendazim, cypermethrin, and azoxystrobin were the most frequently detected pesticides in more than 150 samples. Longan (81.4%) and rambutan (66.7%) showed the highest number of imported samples with multiple pesticide residues > MRL. These results highlight the need to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits, particularly samples imported into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fruit samples with residues > MRL are considered unfit for consumption and prevented from entering commerce in the UAE.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.<br /> (© 2022 The Author(s).)