Carcinogenic and Non-carcinogenic Risk Assessment Induced by Pesticide Residues in Fresh Pistachio in Iran Based on Monte Carlo Simulation

Abstract

Abstract This research is aimed at analysis 88 pesticides in 30 fresh pistachio samples prepared from stores in Iran by QuEChERS-Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The results showed at least one pesticide was in 67% of fresh pistachio samples. Kresoxim methyl residue was detected in 20 samples with average of 0.11 mg kg− 1, this average is 2.2 times more than MRL. buprofezin in 5 samples with average of 0.17 mg kg− 1 was observed with 3.4 times more than MRL, hexaconazole and permethrin were recognized in 3 samples lower than MRL with average residue of 0.030 and 0.028 mg kg− 1, respectively. In addition, potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessments were evaluated using probabilistic methods performed with the Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. The order of pesticide ranking based on HQ was hexaconazole > buprofezin > permethrin > kresoxim methyl. Total HQ (HI) was 2.0E-4 and for children 9.0E-4 hence it means fresh pistachio consuming maybe not have significant short-term health risks for cosumers. Ranking based on CR was hexaconazole > kresoxim methyl > metalaxyl > permethrin > buprofezin. However, total CR due to pesticide residues was not higher than 1E-6 value (1.09E-9) therefore, consumers were not at significant risk of carcinogenicity in this product.