Journal of Food Safety and Quality

Objective To investigate the residual characteristics of neonicotinoids pesticides in vegetables and the dietary exposure risk of residents in Hubei Province from 2022 to 2023. Methods A total of 887 vegetable samples were collected from 17 cities in Hubei Province, and neonicotinoid pesticide residues were determined. Dietary exposure was assessed according to the vegetable consumption of residents in Hubei Province. Results The overall detection rate of neonicotinoids in vegetables in Hubei Province was 33.4%, and the exceeding standard rate was 1.58%. The top 3 neonicotinoids exceeding the standard rate were clothianide (1.01%), acetamidine (0.23%) and imidacloprid (0.23%). The top 3 vegetable varieties exceeding the standard rate were fresh beans (6.06%), roots and tubers (4.48%), and melon vegetables (2.00%). The results of dietary exposure assessment showed that the chronic exposure hazard quotient of different neonicotinoids in Hubei Province was less than 1, the chronic exposure risk was low. The cumulative exposure of 8 kinds of neonicotinoids accounts for 2.78% of the acceptable daily intake of the indicator compound imidacloprid, indicating a low cumulative exposure risk. Conclusion The chronic exposure risk of neonicotinoid pesticides through vegetables for residents in Hubei Province from 2022 to 2023 is relatively low. However, there are cases of neonicotinoid pesticide residues exceeding the standard in vegetables, and the types of vegetables with excessive residues are different from those of traditional pesticides. It is suggested that relevant regulatory authorities further strengthen the supervision of neonicotinoid pesticides in fresh beans, root and tuber vegetables, and gourd vegetables.

vegetables; pesticide residue; neonicotinoids; dietary exposure assessment