Online first
Current issue
Archive
Special Issues
About the Journal
Publication Ethics
Anti-Plagiarism system
Instructions for Authors
Instructions for Reviewers
Editorial Board
Editorial Office
Contact
Reviewers
All Reviewers
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
General Data Protection Regulation (RODO)
RESEARCH PAPER
Health and environmental risk assessment of berry fruits contaminated with pesticide residues, including soil ecosystem exposure
1
Department of Public Health, Academy of Medical Sciences of Applied and Holistic Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
2
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
3
Department of Environmental Chemistry and Risk Assessment, Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
4
Institute of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
5
Faculty of Humanities, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
6
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
Corresponding author
Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, ul. Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Health, ul. Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
- Biological agents posing occupational risk in agriculture, forestry, food industry and wood industry and diseases caused by these agents (zoonoses, allergic and immunotoxic diseases)
- Health effects of chemical pollutants in agricultural areas , including occupational and non-occupational effects of agricultural chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers) and effects of industrial disposal (heavy metals, sulphur, etc.) contaminating the atmosphere, soil and water
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Pesticides, also known as plant protection products, are used to control pests, plant diseases, and weeds during crop cultivation and post-harvest handling. The aim of the study is evaluation of the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide residues in berry fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) available in Poland in 2022.
Material and methods:
The study is based on the results of officially controlled, laboratory analyses of pesticide residues in berry fruits available on the Polish market in 2022, data on fruit consumption, and literature data concerning acceptable daily intake values (ADI). Estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotients (HQ) were calculated to assess the chronic dietary risk. In addition, a screening-level environmental risk assessment was carried out for the same active substances, focusing on the soil compartment as the main sink of pesticide residues.
Results:
The health risk assessment showed that all calculated EDI, HQ, and HI values for pesticide residues in strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries consumed in Poland in 2022 were several orders of magnitude below the threshold of concern (HQ < 1). The environmental risk assessment indicated that most fungicides (boscalid, cyprodinil, fludioxonil, fluopyram) posed low risk to soil organisms (RQ < 1), even under conservative scenarios. However, acetamiprid exceeded the risk threshold at higher assumed soil concentrations (MEC = 0.10 mg/kg), suggesting potential ecological concern for sensitive soil invertebrates, such as collembolans.
Conclusions:
The study showed that pesticide residues in strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries available in Poland in 2022 did not pose a chronic health risk to consumers. Environmental risk assessment indicated low risk for most fungicides; however, acetamiprid exceeded the safety threshold under higher soil contamination scenarios, suggesting potential concern for soil invertebrates.
Pesticides, also known as plant protection products, are used to control pests, plant diseases, and weeds during crop cultivation and post-harvest handling. The aim of the study is evaluation of the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide residues in berry fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) available in Poland in 2022.
Material and methods:
The study is based on the results of officially controlled, laboratory analyses of pesticide residues in berry fruits available on the Polish market in 2022, data on fruit consumption, and literature data concerning acceptable daily intake values (ADI). Estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotients (HQ) were calculated to assess the chronic dietary risk. In addition, a screening-level environmental risk assessment was carried out for the same active substances, focusing on the soil compartment as the main sink of pesticide residues.
Results:
The health risk assessment showed that all calculated EDI, HQ, and HI values for pesticide residues in strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries consumed in Poland in 2022 were several orders of magnitude below the threshold of concern (HQ < 1). The environmental risk assessment indicated that most fungicides (boscalid, cyprodinil, fludioxonil, fluopyram) posed low risk to soil organisms (RQ < 1), even under conservative scenarios. However, acetamiprid exceeded the risk threshold at higher assumed soil concentrations (MEC = 0.10 mg/kg), suggesting potential ecological concern for sensitive soil invertebrates, such as collembolans.
Conclusions:
The study showed that pesticide residues in strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries available in Poland in 2022 did not pose a chronic health risk to consumers. Environmental risk assessment indicated low risk for most fungicides; however, acetamiprid exceeded the safety threshold under higher soil contamination scenarios, suggesting potential concern for soil invertebrates.
REFERENCES (28)
1.
Adler-Flindt S, Martin S. Comparative cytotoxicity of plant protection products and their active ingredients. Toxicol. In Vitro. 2019;54:354–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.....
2.
Li J, Qin Z, Wang L, et al. Advances in the metabolism and phyto-remediation of pesticides in horticultural plants. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety. 2025;302: 118634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoe....
3.
Żeber-Dzikowska I, Gworek B, Goździewska M. Health risk resulting from pesticide residues in food of plant origin – a still valid challenge for health and ecological education. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2025;23(2): 274–279. https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/....
4.
Ochwanowska E, Czarny-Działak, M, Żeber-Dzikowska I, et al. Chemicals in food as a health threat. Przem Chem. 2019;98(10):1614–1618. https://doi.org/10.15199/62.20... (in Polish).
5.
Chmielewski J, Łuszczki JJ, Czarny-Działak M, et al. Environmental exposition to xenoestrogens (XEs) and related health effects. J Elem. 2021;26(3):717–730. https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.....
6.
Czarny-Działak M, Chmielewski J, Gietka M, et al. Occupational exposure to pesticides – a challenge for environmental health specialists and occupational medicine practitioners. J Elem. 2022;27(3):579–595. https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.....
7.
Chmielewski J, Czarny-Działak M, Wróblewska I, et al. The challenge of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) in the current environment for public health. J Elem. 2021;26(4):893–903. https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.....
8.
Tang FHM, Lenzen M, McBratney A, et al. Risk of pesticide pollution at the global scale. Nat Geosci. 2021;14:206–210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561....
9.
Nosecka B. (red.). Rynek owoców i warzyw. Stan i perspektywy. Nr 65. Analizy Rynkowe. IERiGŻ PIB; 2024 (in Polish).
10.
Bezerra M, Ribeiro M, Cosme F, et al. Overview of the distinctive characteristics of strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry in berries, berry wines, and berry spirits. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Safety. 2024;23(3):e13354. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4....
11.
Cosme F, Pinto T, Aires A, et al. Red Fruits Composition and Their Health Benefits-A Review. Foods. 2022;11(5):644. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods1....
12.
Struciński P, Lewiński R, Czaja K, et al. Raport: Analiza potencjalnego zagrożenia zdrowia konsumentów wynikającego z obecności pozostałości pestycydów w żywności dostępnej na polskim rynku w roku 2022. Opracowano w ramach Narodowego Programu Zdrowia na lata 2021–2025. Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Warszawa, grudzień 2024, (in Polish) available: https://www.pzh.gov.pl/raport-....
13.
Shalaby SE, Abdou GY, El-Metwally IM, et al. Health risk assessment of pesticide residues in vegetables collected from Dakahlia, Egypt. J Plant Protect Res. 2021;61(3):254–264. https://doi.org/10.24425/jppr.....
14.
Chmielewski JP, Wszelaczyńska E, Pobereżny J, et al. Effect of consumption of vegetables contaminated with pesticides on consumers’ health – risk analysis. Ann Agric Environ Med. https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/....
15.
Ssemugabo C, Bradman A, Ssempebwa JC, et al. An assessment of health risks posed by consumption of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables among residents in the Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda. Int J Food Contam. 2022;9(1):4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550....
16.
Gworek B, Barański A, Bojanowicz A, et al. Ocena ryzyka środowiskowego pochodzącego od substancji i preparatów chemicznych. Monografia. Instytut Ochrony Środowiska. Warszawa. 2002.
17.
Vašíčková J, Hvězdová M, Kosubová P, et al. Ecological risk assessment of pesticide residues in arable soils of the Czech Republic. Chemosphere. 2019;216:479–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
18.
Toumi K, Arbi A, Soudani N, et al. Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment and Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Soil, Surface Water, and Groundwater in Northwestern Tunisia. Water. 2025;17(16):2387. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17162....
19.
Ray SS, Parihar K, Goyal N, et al. Synergistic insights into pesticide persistence and microbial dynamics for bioremediation. Environ Res. 2024;257:119290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envr....
20.
Silva V, Mol HGJ, Zomer P, et al. Pesticide residues in European agricultural soils-A hidden reality unfolded. Sci Total Environ. 2019;653:1532–1545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scit....
21.
Zuščíková L, Bažány D, Greifová H, et al. Screening of Toxic Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides with a Focus on Acetamiprid: A Review. Toxics. 2023;11(7):598. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics....
22.
Mamy L, Pesce S, Sanchez W, et al. Impacts of neonicotinoids on biodiversity: a critical review. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2025;32:2794–2829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356....
23.
Fernández-Ortuño D, Pérez-García A, Chamorro M, et al. Resistance to the SDHI fungicides boscalid, fluopyram, fluxapyroxad, and penthiopyrad in Botrytis cinerea from commercial strawberry fields in Spain. Plant Dis. 2017;101(7):1306–1313. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-0....
24.
Keklik M, Odabas E, Golge O, et al. Pesticide residue levels in strawberries and human health risk assessment. J Food Compos Anal. 2025;137:106943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca....
25.
Li J, Chen W, Deng K, et al. Monitoring and dietary exposure assessment of pesticide residues in strawberry in Beijing, China. Food Addit. Contam. Part B. 2022;15(2):98–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/193932....
26.
Sadło S, Piechowicz B, Podbielska, et al. A study on residue levels of fungicides and insecticides applied according to the program of raspberry protection. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2018;25:8057–8068. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356....
27.
Tasić A, Radojičić Đ, Pavlović I, et al. Monitoring of the presence of pesticides in organic raspberries of the 2021 harvest. Fresenius Environ Bulletin. 2023;32(2):863–874.
28.
Milinčić DD, Vojinović UD, Kostić AŽ, et al. In vitro assessment of pesticide residues bioaccessibility in conventionally grown blueberries as affected by complex food matrix. Chemosphere. 2020;252:126568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chem....
| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No NrRCN/SP/0532/2021/1 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2025 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
