Abstract:In order to understand the status of pesticide residues in cucumbers in Weifang, Shandong Province, 623 pesticides and metabolites in 392 cucumber samples produced and circulated in Weifang were qualitatively screened and quantitatively measured by retention index-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (RI-GC-MS/MS). Dietary intake risks of the pesticide residues were assessed and ranked. In total, 55 pesticides and metabolites were detected in 392 cucumber samples with detection rates of 0.26%~92.09%. In particular, 19 pesticides which are not covered by the national food safety standard methods (GB 23200.113-2018 and GB 23200.8-2016. 19) were found. Among the pesticides detected, five pesticides exceeded the maximum residue limits. They are spirodiclofen (2.30%), endosulfan (1.02%), metalaxyl (0.51%), pyraclostrobin (0.26%), and pyridaben (0.26%). The chronic dietary intake and acute dietary intake risks of the 55 detected pesticide residues were all less than 100%, and the intake risks were acceptable. According to the residual risk score ranking, medium- and high-risk pesticides accounted for a relatively high proportion (60%) of the samples. In particular, the detection of some banned and restricted pesticides (endosulfan and 2,4-D butyl ester) may be related to the illegal addition of agricultural inputs. The present study found more residues in the circulation stage (33.5% of the samples having more than 15 pesticides) than in the production stage (4.08%). This phenomenon may be related to the existence of risk points and lack of effective supervision in the first three stages of transportation from the production base to the market. It is suggested that monitoring of these three stages and management of pesticide use should be strengthened to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products.
