Concentrations and related health risk assessment of pesticides, phthalates and heavy metals in strawberry from Shanghai, China.

In the present study, a risk assessment of pesticides, phthalates and heavy metals in strawberries (n = 335) in recent years was conducted by determining the out estimate dietary intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) . 128 Pesticides, 18 phthalates and 3 heavy metals were determined in this determination. 51 pesticide residues were detected in the strawberry samples, and 97.91% samples had levels of at least one of the 51 pesticides above the LOD (limit of detection). 2.39% of samples had pesticides higher than the Chinese MRL. Multiple pesticides residues were detected in most samples. Bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were detected in the strawberry samples with high frequency of detection. Their detectable rates were 100, 100 and 89.9%, respectively. Most of the samples were detected lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) with the detectable rates 75.76, 92.93 and 92.93%, respectively. Estimated daily intake of analyzed pesticide, phthalate and heavy metal residues appear to be relatively low compared to the ADI. The average THQs and HI were less than one. That means the customers who are exposed to the average contaminants levels may not pose significant health risk. Our results show that the strawberries may be polluted by many kinds of contaminants. Therefore, monitoring of pesticides, phthalates and heavy metal residues in strawberries should be increasingly developed in order to fully protect the health of the consumer.