Characteristics and risk assessment of pesticide residues in commercially available vegetables in Wuxi City based on the index of food safety method and hazard risk coefficient model

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of pesticide residues in commercially available vegetables in Wuxi City， and evaluate the dietary exposure risks of residents.MethodsOne hundred and twenty seven commercially available vegetable samples were randomly selected from 7 monitoring counties （districts） in Wuxi City from 2021 to 2023， and the 51 kinds of pesticide residues were detected using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （GC-MS/MS） and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） and other methods. The exceeded levels were analyzed based on GB 2763—2021.The risk assessment of pesticide residues was evaluated using the index of food safety method and hazard risk coefficient model.ResultsThe total detection rate of pesticide residues in vegetables was 76.38% （97/127）， with a total excess rate of 6.30% （8/127）. The 25 kinds of pesticides were detected， including some prohibited and restricted pesticides. The highest detection rate was dimethomorph （29.13%， 37/127） and the highest excess rate was chlorpyrifos （3.94%， 5/127）. Pesticide residues were detected in all 7 categories of vegetables. The highest detection rate was fresh beans， and the highest excess rate was bulbs， at 100.00% （3/3） and 40.00% （4/10）， respectively. The results of the food safety index method indicated that the overall dietary exposure risk of commercially available vegetables in Wuxi City was within acceptable range， but the IFSmax values of oxadixyl and dithiocarbamates were greater than 1， and there were unacceptable risk. Moreover， the application of chlorpyrifos was considered to be of high risk based on the hazard risk coefficient method， while the applications of dimethoate， cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam were considered to be of medium risk. Based on a synthesis of the two methods， the risk of pesticide residues in commercially available vegetables in Wuxi City was characterized by overall controllability and prominent pollution of specific pesticides.ConclusionThe overall dietary exposure risks of pesticide residues in commercially available vegetables in Wuxi City was safe and acceptable， but the risks of illegal use of prohibited and restricted pesticides and multiple pesticide residues were still existed. It is suggested that relevant departments should target and control the potential risks and continue to pay attention to the quality and safety of vegetables.