Probabilistic dietary exposure and risk ranking of pesticides in peppers (Capsicum annuum): Regional and consumer group variability.

Abstract

Pesticide residues in peppers (Capsicum annuum) and associated health risks were assessed for populations from different regions and various consumer groups. The QuEChERS protocol combined with LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS demonstrated satisfactory linearity (r2 = 0.9929-0.9985), recovery (82.3-117 %), and precision (RSD ≤ 15.3 %), aligning with EU guidelines. Of 197 analyzed pepper samples, 27 % were positive, and 14 % contained multiple residues. Residue levels for 31 detected pesticides ranged from 0.02 mg/kg to 0.94 mg/kg. Risk ranking identified seven pesticides with high-risk scores (>20), notably methiocarb, formetanate, and chlorpyrifos. Chronic dietary exposure index (HIc) indicated no long-term health risks across all population groups, including children and pregnant women. However, acute exposure exceeded the threshold (HIa > 1) in certain samples, particularly for children, suggesting a potential short-term risk, particularly in certain regions. Sensitivity analysis showed that body weight and ingestion rate were the most influential exposure parameters affecting risk estimates.