Refined assessment and perspectives on the cumulative risk resulting from the dietary exposure to pesticide residues in the Danish population.

Relatively few studies are available on realistic cumulative risk assessments for dietary pesticide exposure. Despite available studies showing low risk, public concern remains. A method to estimate realistic residue levels based on information from spraying journals and supervised residue trials was described in a previous publication. The present article proposes a new method to estimate average residue levels in imported foods based on residue monitoring data and knowledge about agronomic practices. The two methods were used in combination to estimate average pesticide residue levels in 47 commodities on the Danish market. The chronic consumer exposure was estimated in six Danish diets. The Hazard Index (HI) method was used to assess consumer risk. Despite the conservative (cautious) risk assessment approach, low HI values where obtained. The HI was 16% for adults and 44% for children, combining the risk of all pesticides in the diet. CONCLUSION: the present study adds support to the evidence showing that adverse health effects of chronic pesticide residue exposure in the Danish population are very unlikely. The HI for pesticides for a Danish adult was on level with that of alcohol for a person consuming the equivalent of 1 glass of wine every seventh year.

Quantifying dietary exposure to pesticide residues using spraying journal data.

Relatively few studies are available on the combined risk of realistic dietary pesticide exposure. Despite available studies showing low risk, public concern remains. Recent methods used to estimate realistic exposure levels have a number of drawbacks, and better methods are needed. Using a novel approach, we estimated the combined exposure in the Danish population, resulting from pesticide usage in Danish agriculture. The complete Danish spraying journal data from 2014, and supervised trial residue levels reported by EFSA, were used in combination, generating residue estimates in 25 crops. Cumulative risk assessments were made for six typical Danish consumer diets. In terms of intake of cereals, sugar, fruits and vegetables, the 25 crops included accounted 70% of the diets of Danish consumers. The Hazard Index (HI) method was used to assess the consumer risk. Despite the conservative (cautious) approach, low HI values where obtained. Highest HI was 14% of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for Children. The main advantages of the new exposure estimation method are 1) comprehensive use data not relying on random samples, 2) coverage of all pesticides used, and 3) more precise estimates of residues that are below the standard reporting limits in the national monitoring program.