Abstract:

To investigate the level of fungicide residue in apple of Yantai, and assess the dietary exposure risk to residents, 718 apple samples were randomly selected in October from 2016 to 2018, covering orchards, refrigeration storage and supermarkets, and 18 fungicides were tested. Hazard index was calculated based on Monte Carlo to assess the dietary exposure risk of fungicide residue in apples. The study showed that 6 fungicides were detected in apples of Yantai, the total positive rate was 53.26%, the maximum was carbendazim of 40.39% and minimum was tebuconazole of 0.14%. The positive rate of 2016-2018 was 38.43%, 67.93%, 38.43%, and the year to year difference was significant (α=0.01). The mean value of the 6 fungicides’ residue was from 1.03 μg/kg to 15.4 μg/kg, significantly different between each group (α=0.05). None of the residue of tebuconazole, iprodione, thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim measured exceeded the GB Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), but prochloraz and difenoconazole content of individual sample exceeded MRL, with a ratio of 0.28%. The detect frequency of the six fungicides was 385 times, carbendazim was detected 290 times, which was the highest, multiple fungicides’ residue, at most five, was detected in the same sample. The estimated daily intake (EDI) mean value of the 6 fungicides was different in each population group, higher in female group than that in male group; the EDI had a negative correlation trend with age in children and teenage group, five fungicides’ hazard quotient (HQ) was less than one except in the 2-6 years old group; the probability rate of prochloraz HQ exceeding one varied, which was the highest in the 2-6 years old group, the HQ of carbendazim and difenoconazole exceeding one only found in the 2-6 years old group, which was 0.01% and 0.02%, respectively. In general, the hazard index of long-term dietary exposure risk rate of apple is 0.30%-66%, higher for female than for male, and higher for intake group than for the total, the 2-6 years old group and 7-10 years old group are the most vulnerable one. Fungicides’ residue is relatively low in Yantai apples and belongs to the acceptable level to residents, and prochloraz is the major hazard factor of fungicide dietary exposure risk of apple, particularly to children and teens.

Key words: Apple, Pesticide Residue, Fungicide, Dietary Exposure, Food Safety, Risk