The concentration of pesticide residues in vegetables: A systematic review and meta-analyses

In recent years, the widespread use of pesticides has led to serious health concern for humans and animals. Current study was conducted to assess concentration of pesticide residues (herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, ovacide, acaricide, miticide, veterinary materials, and nematicide) in different vegetables according to the type of vegetables, pesticide, and the mainland. The literature studies regarding the concentrations of pesticides in the different vegetables were collected using international databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed from January 2002 to October 2022. According to the results, the mean pesticide concentration in vegetables was 0.24 mg/kg and 95 % confidence interval (CI) (0.23–0.25 mg/kg). The pesticide level in vegetables was fungicide > herbicide > ovacide > insecticide > acaricide > nematicide > miticide respectively. The biggest and the smallest mean as well as 95 % CI of pesticides belong to green beans 2.57 mg/kg (2.56, 2.58 mg/kg) and Chinese kale 0.010 mg/kg (0.009, 0.011 mg/kg), respectively. Besides, if we consider the location where the vegetables are grown the pesticide concentration in different vegetables was fungicide > insecticide > herbicide > veterinary substance > ovicide > nematicide > acaricide > miticide respectively. The highest amount of pesticide concentration in Europe, Asia, and Africa was attributed to insecticide while herbicide and fungicide were reported in North America, and South America, respectively. The findings of our meta-analysis can be beneficial in risk assessment methods and can be applied by health administrators and programs designed to monitor the environment to o decrease pesticide residues in various vegetables.