Infant and toddler health risks associated with pesticide residue exposure through fruit- and vegetable-based baby food

Abstract

This research specifically delves into the potential health risks associated with pesticide residues in fruit- and vegetable-based foods for Turkish infants and toddlers. A total of 36 baby food samples were analyzed using a validated method covering 355 pesticide residues, employing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Notably, 72.2 % of the samples revealed no pesticide residues, while 10 samples exceeded the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) stipulated by the EU Directives. Specifically, pyriproxyfen had the greatest average concentration in pear fruits (0.573 mg/kg). Notably, both pyrimethanil and pyriproxyfen were the most frequently detected analytes in all positive samples. The study further simulated a population, considering age-specific energy requirements for infants and toddlers. Pyriproxyfen demonstrated the highest average exposure (1.58±2.20 μg/kg bw/day) across all age groups. Notably, for 6-month-old infants, the toxicological contribution as a percentage of the ADI for pesticides remained below 14.73 %. It emphasizes the necessity for regulatory measures to ensure the safety of foods intended for infants and toddlers in the Turkish market. These findings support ongoing efforts to uphold pesticide levels within acceptable safety limits.