Effect of household processing on pesticide residues in post-harvested tomatoes: determination of the risk exposure and modeling of experimental results via RSM.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the acute and chronic hazard quotients of chlorpyrifos and diazinon for tomatoes in preharvest and postharvest conditions, and to evaluate the relationship between the main variables, including temperature and contact time and pesticide dissipation at different conditions using response surface methodology for the first time. The qualification analyses were conducted by a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The Monte Carlo simulation technique was utilized to evaluate the variability and uncertainty and achieve more accurate results in the health risk assessment process. A quadratic model and the second-order polynomial analysis were employed to investigate the mutual effect of time and temperature on removing diazinon and chlorpyrifos. Based on findings, the chronic hazard quotient values of chlorpyrifos and diazinon residues ranged from 0.43 - 1.33 to 0.13 - 2.27 for boiling, 0.65 - 1.49 to 3.05 - 7.15 for room condition, and 0.63 - 1.92 to 3.28 - 7.47 for refrigerator condition, respectively. According to the Monte Carlo simulation, the hazard quotient and estimated daily intake values were more affected by the consumption rate, pesticide concentration, and body weight. The results of response surface methodology showed that the effect of temperature variations on the dissipation of both pesticides was more than that of contact time variations.