Exposure and risk assessment of organophosphorus pesticides in brinjal and tomato of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The current work gives a snapshot of pesticide residuals, their exposure levels, and the associated potential risks of some organophosphates in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. The study has significant viewpoints on food safety and pesticide management. The pesticide residual analysis was carried out on two commonly used vegetables, tomato and brinjal. The QuEChERS method is used to extract pesticides and GC–MS/SIM analyses were used to quantify pesticide residues. Among the various samples tested, organophosphorus pesticides, such as Phorate Sulfoxide, Chlorpyrifos, and Malathion, were detected in some samples. In the majority of brinjal samples analyzed, no pesticide residues were detected. However, one sample showed the presence of malathion (0.001 mg/kg). The detected level of malathion was within the acceptable safety limits, indicating that the sample is safe for consumption. Nevertheless, in one of the tomato samples tested, the residual level of phorate sulfoxide (0.34 mg/kg) is found to be higher than the MRL with a health risk index of 2.79. Except for phorate sulfoxide, all the other pesticide residuals were within MRL. Phorate residues with a soil half-life of 2 to 173 days are readily water soluble and may leach easily into groundwater, adversely affecting human health. The dietary risk of phorate can also put people at increased health risks of reproductive harm, endocrine system disruption, neurological damage, and an increased risk of certain cancers. The study’s outcome suggests the need to review the strict guidelines imposed on using unsafe pesticides. Also, future investigations are necessary to validate the presence of other toxic pesticides in the study area.