Pesticide residues in wheat grains in Türkiye (2021–2024): Multi-year monitoring and health risk assessment

Abstract

This study presents a multi-year monitoring effort involving 984 wheat grain samples collected throughout Türkiye from 2021 to 2024, focusing on the detection of 324 pesticide residues and their associated health risks. The analytical methodology, based on QuEChERS extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis, was validated in accordance with SANTE/11312/2021 guidelines, demonstrating high accuracy and sensitivity. Detectable pesticide residues were found in 47 samples (4.77 %), of which 25 samples (2.54 %) exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union. The identified residues included chlorpyrifos-ethyl, pirimiphos-methyl, imidacloprid, deltamethrin, acetamiprid, triasulfuron, triticonazole, pyraclostrobin, and thiamethoxam. Among these, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, imidacloprid, triasulfuron, and triticonazole exceeded their respective MRLs in at least one sample. Chlorpyrifos-ethyl was the most frequently detected pesticide, followed by pirimiphos-methyl and imidacloprid. Notably, chlorpyrifos-ethyl, banned in Türkiye since 2020, exceeded its MRL in all positive samples, suggesting either illegal use or environmental persistence in agricultural soils. Health risk assessment showed that both chronic (HQc) and acute (HQa) hazard quotients remained below 1 for all detected compounds, indicating no significant health risk to either adults or children. The presence of banned pesticides highlights the urgent need for more stringent regulatory enforcement and expanded residue surveillance to ensure food safety in staple crops and safeguard broader public health.