Acute and Chronic Exposure Assessment of Organophosphate Pesticides through the Consumption of Fruit Vegetables

Abstract In this study, we monitored the residues of organophosphate pesticides (OP) in eight fruitvegetables grown in Korea, and assessed risk levels of acute and chronic exposure of OP through theconsumption of fruit vegetables. Chlorpyrifos, EPN, methidathion and phosphamidon in eight fruit vegetableswere detected in this study. The results of cumulative assessment of national estimated short term intake foracute exposure of OP were due to the following order; eggplant, tomato, squash and cucumber. Totaltheoretical maximum daily intake calculated at first step of chronic exposure assessment for registered OP inKorea was 76.14%, compared with acceptable daily intake ADI) based on chlorpyrifos. In addition, totalnational estimated maximum daily intake calculated at second step of chronic exposure assessment was13.949%, compared with ADI. Third chronic assessment was conducted by probabilistic approach using OPresidues detected in eight fruit vegetables and showed that total exposure risk was very low, corresponding to0.0001% compared to ADI. Based on those finding, the risk of organophosphate pesticides in fruit vegetableswas considered quantitatively negligible. In future, further investigation to expand the target should befollowed to do more accurate and detailed risk assessment.Key words acute and chronic exposure assessment, fruit vegetables, organophosphate pesticide