ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK OF ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PESTICIDE GROUPS FOR HUMANS CONSUMING APPLES AND GRAPES TREATED WITH PESTICIDES.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To assess the risk of adverse effects of various groups of pesticides for humans, consuming apples and grapes (treated by pesticides). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The gas-liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy and tandem chroma¬tography-mass spectrometry methods were used for the quantitative calculation of pesticides in apples and grapes. The possible intake of pesticides (with mentioned products) and the integral indicator of danger during their consumption were considered, while assessing the risk for the people consuming apples. RESULTS: Results: It has been proven, that the processes of pesticide decomposition in growing agricultural crops (apples, grapes) occur according to an exponential model. The half-life periods of the studied pesticides in agricultural plants were established. And in terms of stability, the studied substances are moderately stable. An exception is bifenthrin - a persistent pesticide. The calculated risk values of dangerous exposure to pesticides, when consuming apples and grapes, treated with pesticides, were 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the permitted level, and ranged from 2.0×10 -3 to 7.8×10 -2 . Most pesticides are moderately dangerous, according to the value of the integrated indicator of danger, during the product consumption, except for the kresoxim-methyl and clothianidin, which are not very dangerous. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The obtained results should be taken into account, considering the issue of expanding the pesticides application field, based on the studied substances, and the necessity for monitoring studies.

Non-Occupational Exposure to Pesticides: Experimental Approaches and Analytical Techniques (from 2019).

BACKGROUND: Pesticide residues are a threat to the health of the global population, not only to farmers, applicators, and other pesticide professionals. Humans are exposed through various routes such as food, skin, and inhalation. This study summarizes the different methods to assess and/or estimate human exposure to pesticide residues of the global population. METHODS: A systematic search was carried out on Scopus and web of science databases of studies on human exposure to pesticide residues since 2019. RESULTS: The methods to estimate human health risk can be categorized as direct (determining the exposure through specific biomarkers in human matrices) or indirect (determining the levels in the environment and food and estimating the occurrence). The role that analytical techniques play was analyzed. In both cases, the application of generic solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up, followed by liquid or gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, is decisive. Advances within the analytical techniques have played an unquestionable role. CONCLUSIONS: All these studies have contributed to an important advance in the knowledge of analytical techniques for the detection of pesticide levels and the subsequent assessment of nonoccupational human exposure.

[Health risk assessment of exogenous harmful pollutants in Chinese medicine: a review].

In recent years, the quality and safety problems have been limiting the internationalization of Chinese medicine. The pollutants in Chinese medicine, particularly the exogenous harmful pollutants mainly including mycotoxins, pesticide residues, heavy metals, harmful elements, and sulfur dioxide, are of high risks for people. Therefore, the World Health Organization(WHO) and relevant national organizations have clearly defined the maximum residue limits(MRLs) of such pollutants. Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition, volume Ⅳ) also demonstrates the detection methods, MRLs and preliminary risk assessment methods for four typical exogenous harmful pollutants in Chinese medicine. Therefore, continuous optimization of the health risk assessment system can further help further raise the quality and safety of Chinese medicine. This paper reviews the research on the health risk assessment of four typical exogenous harmful pollutants in Chinese medicine and discusses the problems of and challenges for the assessment system, which is expected to lay a scientific basis for the establishment of the risk warning mode and response measures suitable for specific types of Chinese medicine.

Associations of Maternal Exposure to Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and Pyrethroids With Birth Outcomes Among Participants in the Venda Health Examination of Mothers, Babies and Their Environment Residing in an Area Sprayed for Malaria Control.

Although effective in controlling malaria, indoor residual spraying results in elevated exposure to insecticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and pyrethroids. These chemicals cross the placenta, but no studies have examined their associations with birth outcomes in populations residing in indoor residual spraying areas. We investigated this question in the Venda Health Examination of Mothers, Babies and Their Environment (VHEMBE), a birth cohort study of 751 South African children born between 2012 and 2013. We measured maternal peripartum serum DDT and urine pyrethroid metabolite concentrations and collected data on birth weight, length, head circumference, and duration of gestation. We analyzed the data using marginal structural models with inverse-probability-of-treatment weights, generalized propensity scores, and standard conditional linear regression. Using all 3 analytical methods, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, and to a lesser extent p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene were related to elevated birth weight, birth length, and head circumference among girls. Changes in gestational duration did not mediate this relationship, suggesting that these exposures accelerate fetal growth, which is consistent with the known estrogenic properties of o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDT. No associations with pyrethroid metabolites were found. Results suggest that prenatal exposure to DDT is related to elevated birth size. Further studies are needed to elucidate the implications of these findings.

Dietary risk evaluation of tetraconazole and bifenazate residues in fresh strawberry from protected field in North China.

Residues and dietary risk assessment of tetraconazole and bifenazate were investigated in strawberry under greenhouse conditions using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) after QuEChERs extraction in Beijing of China. The effects of different processing factors on the two pesticides were studied. The recoveries of tetraconazole and bifenazate were 87.0% and 89.1%, respectively. The dissipation curves of tetraconazole and bifenazate were in accordance with the first-order kinetic equation and the half-life were 5.92 d and 5.58 d, respectively. When the pre-harvest interval (PHI) was 3 d, the risk quotient (RQs) of both pesticides was less than 100%. Although soaking was a poor way to remove the two pesticides and heating at high temperatures increases the concentration of both pesticides, the residues of two pesticides can be effectively removed by washing after soaking. The results of dietary intake assessment indicated that potential dietary risk caused by tetraconazole and bifenazate in strawberry were acceptable for Chinese consumers.

Effects of heterospecific pollen from a wind-pollinated and pesticide-treated plant on reproductive success of an insect-pollinated species.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Studies on the effects of heterospecific pollen (HP) transfer have been focused mainly on insect-pollinated species, despite evidence of insect visitation to wind-pollinated species and transfer of their pollen onto stigmas of insect-pollinated plants. Thus, the potential consequences of HP transfer from wind-pollinated species remain largely unknown. Furthermore, accumulation of pesticide residues in pollen of wind-pollinated crops has been documented, but its potential effects on wild plant species via HP transfer have not been tested. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of wind-dispersed Zea mays pollen on pollen tube growth of the insect-pollinated Mimulus nudatus via hand pollinations. We further evaluated whether pesticide-contaminated Z. mays pollen has larger effects on M. nudatus pollen success than non-contaminated Z. mays pollen. KEY RESULTS: We found a significant negative effect of Z. mays pollen on M. nudatus pollen tube growth even when deposited in small amounts. However, we did not observe any difference in the magnitude of this effect between pesticide-laden Z. mays pollen and non-contaminated Z. mays pollen. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that wind-pollinated species can have negative effects as HP donors on insect-pollinated recipients. Thus, their role in shaping co-flowering interactions for wind- and insect-pollinated species deserves more attention. Although we did not find evidence that pesticide contamination increased HP effects, we cannot fully rule out the existence of such an effect, because pollen load and thus the pesticide dose applied to stigmas was low. This result should be confirmed using other HP donors and across a range of HP loads, pesticide types, and concentrations.

Association between organic food consumption and metabolic syndrome: cross-sectional results from the NutriNet-Santé study.

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a multicomponent condition, is a cardiovascular disease predictor. Although exposure to agricultural pesticides has been suggested as a potential contributor to the rising rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other features of metabolic disorders, no studies have focused on the association between consumption of organic food (produced without synthetic pesticides) and MetS. We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between organic food consumption and MetS in French adults to determine whether it would be worth conducting further studies, particularly large prospective and randomised trials. METHODS: A total of 8174 participants from the NutriNet-Santé study who attended a clinical visit and completed an organic food frequency questionnaire were included in this cross-sectional analysis. We evaluated the association between the proportion of organic food in the diet (overall and by food group) and MetS using Poisson regression models while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Higher organic food consumption was negatively associated with the prevalence of MetS: adjusted prevalence ratio was 0.69 (95% CI 0.61, 0.78) when comparing the third tertile of proportion of organic food in the diet with the first one (p value <0.0001). Higher consumption of organic plant-based foods was also related to a lower probability of having MetS. In addition, when stratifying by lifestyle factors (nutritional quality of the diet, smoking status, and physical activity), a significant negative association was detected in each subgroup (p values <0.05), except among smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that a higher organic food consumption was associated with a lower probability of having MetS. Additional prospective studies and randomised trials are required to ascertain the relationship between organic food consumption and metabolic disorders.

A monitoring survey and dietary risk assessment for pesticide residues on peaches in China.

The presence of pesticide residues in fruit has been of extensive concern worldwide. In this paper, pesticide residues in peach samples in China and their dietary exposure risks for the Chinese general population and children were evaluated. Thirty-nine different pesticides were detected, and 92.3% of samples contained one or more pesticide residues. The most frequently detected pesticide was carbendazim with a detection rate of 60.6%. Residues for eight pesticides in 3.2% of the samples exceeded their MRLs with the highest exceedance of 345%. The results demonstrated that the chronic dietary risks were extremely low for both the general population and children in China. Acute risks from carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, pyridaben and triazophos exposures for children and triazophos for the general population exceeded the acceptable level in the worst case scenario. Only %ARfD of triazophos exceeded 100 when intakes were calculated at the 97.5th percentile of residue level distribution. The risk scoring scheme showed nine pesticides that were considered to pose a higher risk. Different use suggestions for the 39 detected pesticides were proposed to protect the health of consumers. More strictly controlled management of banned pesticides and those suggested for gradually diminished use until banned is highly recommended.

Pesticide genotoxicity in cotton picking women in Pakistan evaluated using comet assay.

To control agricultural pests and meet the increasing food demands, pesticides use has been increased substantially over time. Although pesticides are relatively specific to their targets, they can affect non-target organisms and are hazardous for the population around the application areas particularly to the individuals engaged in different types of agricultural activities. This situation is worse in developing and under-developed countries where personal protective equipment is merely used and regulatory guidelines are hardly practiced. In the present study, DNA damage in women exposed to pesticides while picking cotton with bare hands was assessed using single cell gel electrophoresis assay or comet assay. The presence of pesticides in blood serum of exposed individuals was also analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Blood samples were collected from 138 (69 exposed and 69 control) randomly selected females from a major cotton growing area (Bahawalpur District) of the Punjab province of Pakistan. DNA damage, as determined by the mean comet tail length, was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the exposed group compared to the unexposed. A positive correlation of DNA damage with age and exposure time was also observed. Residues of three pesticides, cyhalothrin, endosulfan, and deltamethrin found significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the serum samples of the exposed group compared to the unexposed. It was observed that the groups with higher mean comet tail length also had a higher concentration of pesticides in their serum samples indicating a positive association of DNA damage and pesticide exposure. The present study suggests that exposure to pesticides leads to DNA damage.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in aquatic environment and risk assessment along Shaying River, China.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are pesticides with global scale ubiquity, persistence and bioaccumulation, which leave long-term residuals in the water body. OCPs' high toxicity poses significant threats to human health and aquatic biodiversity, making assessment of OCPs' impact on aquatic ecology and human health urgently necessary. In this research, the presence of 16 OCPs in surface water and groundwater along Shaying River, China, as well as OCPs concentration correlations, was investigated at 24 selected sampling sites. At the same time, the ecological risk and human carcinogenic risk were also analyzed by risk quotient method and USEPA's Risk Assessment Guidance, respectively. Results showed that the total concentration of OCPs ranged from 21.0 to 61.4 ng L-1 in groundwater, and 12.3-77.5 ng L-1 in surface water. Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) and heptachlor were the prominent contaminants in groundwater, which indicated their use in the recent past and confirmed their persistence. The α-HCH/γ-HCH ratios in groundwater confirmed that γ-HCH (lindane) was used as main substitute of technical HCH in the study area. The correlation analysis illustrated that δ-HCH and γ-HCH played a dominant role in HCHs residue. Heptachlor and α-HCH, as well as endosulfan and heptachlor epoxide, had a strongly significant positive correlation, suggesting an associated usage of the two pair OCPs. An extremely high ecological risk for aquatic organism was observed for γ-HCH, heptachlor and dieldrin, while the carcinogenic risks posed by the selected OCPs in surface water and groundwater were all acceptable.

National short-term dietary exposure assessment of a selected group of pesticides in Argentina.

An evaluation of acute dietary exposure to pesticide residues, applying deterministic and stochastic methods, was performed for a selected group of pesticides in two representative age groups from Argentina. Thus, 28 active ingredients (a.i.) and 75 food items were evaluated for the group of 2-5-year-old children, while 9 a.i. and 59 food items were considered for the 10-49-year-old women group. A deterministic assessment was conducting following the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) procedure but using the national maximum residue limits (MRLs) as pesticide residue concentration data, while in the stochastic approach, a theoretical distribution modeled with the available information was used. Food consumption data were obtained from the 2004-2005 comprehensive national nutrition and health survey. The risk was estimated by comparing the short-term dietary exposure with the acute reference dose (ARfD) values for each pesticide-food combination evaluated. In the deterministic assessment, 173 (39.1%) and 40 (31.3%) combinations exceeded the ARfD thresholds for the 2-5-year-old children and 10-49-year-old women groups, respectively. This conservative study generated relevant information as a first stage of acute dietary risk assessment in Argentina.

Effects of glyphosate residues and different concentrate feed proportions on performance, energy metabolism and health characteristics in lactating dairy cows.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of glyphosate (GL) residues in feedstuffs on performance, energy balance and health-related characteristics of lactating dairy cows fed diets with different concentrate feed proportions. After an adaption period, 64 German Holstein cows (207 ± 49 d in milk; mean ± SD) were assigned to either groups receiving a GL contaminated total mixed ration (TMR) (GL groups) or an uncontaminated TMR (CON groups) during a 16 weeks trial. Contaminated feedstuffs used were legally GL-treated peas and wheat (straw and grain). GL and CON groups were subdivided into a "low concentrate" group (LC) fed on dry matter (DM) basis of 21% maize silage, 42% grass silage, 7% straw and 30% concentrate and a "high concentrate" group (HC) composed of 11% maize silage, 22% grass silage, 7% straw and 60% concentrate for ad libitum consumption. Body condition score, body weight, DM intake and milk performance parameters were recorded. In blood serum, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose were measured and energy balance was calculated. Milk was analysed for GL residues. At week 0, 7 and 15, general health status was evaluated by a modified clinical score. The average individual GL intake amounted for Groups CONLC, CONHC, GLLC and GLHC to 0.8, 0.8, 73.8 and 84.5 mg/d, respectively. No GL residues were detected in milk. GL contamination did not affect body condition score, body weight, DM intake, nutrient digestibility, net energy intake, net energy balance or BHB, glucose, NEFA and milk performance parameters; whereas concentrate feed proportion and time did affect most parameters. The clinical examination showed no adverse effect of GL-contaminated feedstuffs on cows' health condition. In the present study, GL-contaminated feedstuffs showed no influence on performance and energy balance of lactating dairy cows, irrespective of feed concentrate proportion.

Intake of Fruits and Vegetables with Low-to-Moderate Pesticide Residues Is Positively Associated with Semen-Quality Parameters among Young Healthy Men.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that occupational or environmental pesticide exposure can affect male fertility. There is less evidence, however, regarding any potentially adverse effects of pesticide residues in foods on markers of male fertility potential. OBJECTIVES: We examined the relations between fruit and vegetable intake, considering pesticide residue status, and semen quality and serum concentrations of reproductive hormones in healthy young men. METHODS: The Rochester Young Men's Study is a cross-sectional study that recruited men aged 18-22 y (n = 189) in Rochester, New York. Participants completed a questionnaire, provided a semen sample, had a blood sample drawn, and underwent a physical examination at enrollment. Semen samples were analyzed for total sperm count, sperm concentration, morphology, motility, ejaculate volume, total motile count, and total normal count. Dietary intake during the previous year was assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Fruit and vegetables were categorized as having high [Pesticide Residue Burden Score (PRBS) ≥4] or low-to-moderate (PRBS <4) pesticide residues on the basis of data from the USDA Pesticide Data Program. Linear regression models were used to analyze the associations of fruit and vegetable intake with semen variables and reproductive hormones while adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The total intake of fruit and vegetables was unrelated to semen quality. However, the intake of fruit and vegetables with low-to-moderate pesticide residues was associated with a higher total sperm count and sperm concentration, whereas the intake of fruit and vegetables with high pesticide residues was unrelated to semen quality. On average, men in the highest quartile of low-to-moderate-pesticide fruit and vegetable intake (≥2.8 servings/d) had a 169% (95% CI: 45%, 400%) higher total sperm count and a 173% (95% CI: 57%, 375%) higher sperm concentration than did men in the lowest quartile (<1.1 servings/d; P-trend = 0.003 and 0.0005, respectively). The intake of fruit and vegetables, regardless of pesticide-residue status, was not associated with reproductive hormone concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of fruit and vegetables with low-to-moderate pesticide residues was positively related to sperm counts in young men unselected by fertility status. This suggests that pesticide residues may modify the beneficial effects of fruit and vegetable intake on semen quality.

Monitoring and probabilistic risk assessment of chlorothalonil residues in vegetables from Shandong province (China).

The aims of this study were to investigate the contamination status of chlorothalonil pesticide residues in vegetables from Shandong province, and to assess the potential risk of chlorothalonil to consumers based on vegetable consumption and body weight using an improved non-parameter probabilistic model. The results showed that Young children (8 months-6 years old) were more sensitive than General population(above 1year-old). In general, the health risk of chlorothalonil residues to 2 consumer groups via vegetable exposure was low, and the level of residual chlorothalonil was below the Acute Reference Dose (ARfD). This result would provide useful information for re-evaluating pesticides and for revising the chlorothalonil standard in vegetables.

Monitoring and exposure assessment of pesticide residues in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) from five provinces of southern China.

Residues of 14 pesticides were determined in 150 cowpea samples collected in five southern Chinese provinces in 2013 and 2014.70% samples were detected one or more residues. 61.3% samples were illegal mainly because of detection of unauthorized pesticides. 14.0% samples contained more than three pesticides. Deterministic and probabilistic methods were used to assess the chronic and acute risk of pesticides in cowpea to eight subgroups of people. Deterministic assessment showed that the estimated short-term intakes (ESTIs) of carbofuran were 1199.4%-2621.9% of the acute reference doses (ARfD) while the rates were 985.9%-4114.7% using probabilistic assessment. Probabilistic assessment showed 4.2%-7.8% subjects may suffer from unacceptable acute risk from carbofuran contaminated cowpeas from the five provinces (especially children). But undue concern is not necessary, because all the estimations are based on conservative assumption.

Residual tembotrione and atrazine in carrot.

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a vegetable crop that is grown throughout the year across various regions of Brazil in rotation or in succession to other cultures. Herbicide residual effect has emerged as a concern, because of the possibility of carryover. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tembotrione and atrazine residues - in mixture and isolated - on carrot planted in succession to corn. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with five replications. Treatments consisted of tembotrione (50.4 g ha(-1)), tembotrione (100.8 g ha(-1)), tembotrione + atrazine (50.4 g ha(-1)+ 2 L ha(-1)), tembotrione + atrazine (100.8 g ha(-1)+ 2 L ha(-1)), and atrazine (2.00 L ha(-1)) applied eight months before carrot seeding, plus a control treatment with no herbicide application. Investigated variables were shoot dry mass, productivity, and classification of carrot roots. The presence of atrazine and tembotrione decreased dry mass in the area, and only tembotrione reduced total root productivity. Thus, there is a carryover effect to tembotrione application that reduces the dry matter accumulation of shoot and total productivity, and an atrazine + tembotrione (100.8 g ha(-1)) mixture reduces the total productivity after application of these herbicides to soil.

Tea consumption in pregnancy as a predictor of pesticide exposure and adverse birth outcomes: The MIREC Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pesticide residues in tea may contribute to exposure during pregnancy; however, the impact on maternal and infant health is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether tea intake in the first trimester was associated with elevated concentrations of various pesticides in maternal blood or urine. Further, we examined the relationship between tea consumption and adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: Data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a pan-Canada pregnancy cohort, were used. All singleton, live births (n=1898) with available biomarkers were included in the analyses. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the population. The geometric means (GM) of organochlorine (OC) pesticide constituents or metabolites in maternal plasma (lipid adjusted) and organophosphate (OP) pesticide metabolites (adjusted for specific gravity) in maternal urine were calculated for participants who drank regular, green or herbal tea in the first trimester and for those who did not. Differences between groups were examined using chi-square or t-tests. Associations between frequency of drinking tea and adverse birth outcomes were examined using logistic regression (preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age) or generalized linear models (birthweight decile and head circumference). RESULTS: The GM of the OC pesticide constituent trans-nonachlor was 2.74 mg/g lipid, and for metabolites oxychlordane and p,p'-DDE this was 1.94 ng/g lipid and 55.8 ng/g lipid, respectively. OP pesticide metabolite concentrations adjusted for specific gravity, were dimethylphosphate (GM: 3.19 µg/L), dimethylthiophosphate (GM: 3.29 µg/L), dimethyldithiophosphate (GM: 0.48 µg/L), diethlphosphate (GM: 2.46), and diethylthiophosphate (GM: 0.67 µg/L). There was no significant difference in mean concentrations for these OC or OP pesticide constituents or metabolites between tea drinkers - of any type - and non-tea drinkers. Further, no association was found between tea intake and adverse birth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Pesticide concentrations did not differ by tea intake. Further, tea intake in the first trimester was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. In this study population, there was no evidence for concern about tea intake being a source of the OP or OC pesticide metabolites measured or adversely affecting birth outcomes; however, tea intake was lower than national Canadian data for women of reproductive age.

Postapplication Fipronil Exposure Following Use on Pets.

Fipronil is a pyrazole acaricide and insecticide that may be used for insect, tick, lice, and mite control on pets. Residents' short-term and long-term postapplication exposures to fipronil, including secondary environmental exposures, were estimated using data from chemical-specific studies. Estimations of acute (24-h) absorbed doses for residents were based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) 2012 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for postapplication exposure. Chronic exposures were not estimated for residential use, as continuous, long-term application activities were unlikely to occur. Estimated acute postapplication absorbed doses were as high as 0.56 µg/kg-d for toddlers (1-2 yr) in households with treated pets based on current U.S. EPA SOPs. Acute toddler exposures estimated here were fivefold larger in comparison to adults. Secondary exposure from the household environment in which a treated pet lives that is not from contacting the pet, but from contacting the house interior to which pet residues were transferred, was estimated based on monitoring socks worn by pet owners. These secondary exposures were more than an order of magnitude lower than those estimated from contacting the pet and thus may be considered negligible.

Hazard index, a tool for a long term risk assessment of pesticide residues in some commodities, a pilot study.

Samples of some vegetables were analyzed for pesticides residues using the accredited (QuEChERS) method. The method allowed the determination of 215 compounds of different pesticide chemical groups. LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS were used for residues quantification. In a total number of 116 samples, no pesticides residues were detected in 34 samples (29.3%), while 82 samples (70.7%) had detectable pesticide residues, with some samples exceeding the MRLs levels established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The hazard index (HI %), representing the long--term risk assessment was in the range of 0.01%-15.04% of the ADI's. The highest exposure was observed for ethion, followed by chlorpyifos, both of them are organophosphates, at 15.04% and 2.45% of ADI respectively. The acute (short-term) exposure was also estimated. Results showed a potential risk for children posed by 3 pesticides, meanwhile, residues of one pesticides showed potential risk to adults (>100% of ARfD). The present work is an attempt to provide a model for the use of WHO template for calculating the short term intake. This model is especially useful for developing countries where information about consumption rate is rather meager.