Abstract
Urbanization and population are increasing significantly across the world resulting in increase in vegetarian food demand and hence exposure to pesticides and pollutants. This study aimed at monitoring and assessing the levels of three groups of toxicants including organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), other selective pesticides used in Saudi Arabia (SPs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs). The study included 69 samples of 23 different species of fruit and vegetables consumed in Asir region, Saudi Arabia. After extraction, clean-up and pre-concentration, the analytes were separated and quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography equipped with photodiode detector. The ranges of limits of detection (LOD, mu g/ml) were as follows: OPPs 0.008-0.147, SAPs 0.006-0.619 and PCBs 0.002-0.007. Many toxicants were found < LOD. For OPPs, butachlor, metachlor and prometon were detected in few species. Simazine and atrazine were detected in the majority of samples (45-6000 mu g/kg). For SPs, abamectin was also detected in the majority of samples (12.18-441.0 mu g/kg). Emamectin, profenofos and cypermethrin were detected in few samples. For PCBs, PCB 110, PCB 138 and PCB 180 were detected in few samples. The potential exposure to cancerous and non-cancerous diseases for adults and children from consumption of fruit and vegetables were estimated in terms of estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LCR). HQ and HI values of detected OPPs, SAPs and PCBs were < 1 indicating no significant risk, with the exception of the cancer and non-cancer HQ for adults and children from emamectin in some samples, besides HI non-cancer and cancer of SAPs for adults from some samples. Additionally, atrazine, PCB 101, PCB 180, and PCB 153 recorded safe LCR levels (1 x 10(-4) - 1 x 10(-6)), with the exception of PCB 138 in arugula.