This study was carried out to determine the pesticide residue levels and health risk assessments in tomato, pepper, and cucumber grown in Tokat province of Turkey. A residue analytical method was verified to determine 260 pesticides by using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pesticide solutions at 10 and 50 µg kg­¹ doses were fortified with the pesticide-free cucumber matrix for verification of the method. The linearities (R2), the limit of detection (LODs), the limit of quantification (LOQs), and mean recovery values of the pesticides ranged between 0.990-0.999, 0.71-2.96 μg kg­¹, 2.36-9.86 μg kg­¹ and 77.25-117.61%, respectively. Pesticide residue levels of 28 vegetable samples collected from Tokat province were determined using the verified method. Seventeen different pesticides were detected in 16 samples, and pesticide concentrations in 3 samples were higher than the allowable limits of the European Union Maximum Residue Limits (EU-MRL). The pyridaben level in 1 pepper sample, metrafenone in 2 cucumber samples were higher than the threshold values stated by the EU-MRL. The results of health risk assessments indicated that these pesticides have chronic toxicity potential for consumers.

This study sought to determine pesticide residues in some fruits in Tokat province, Turkey and to assess the health risks associated with the determined residues. QuEChERS analytical method was verified to determine 260 pesticides by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pesticide solutions corresponded 10 and 50 µg kg­-1 were applied to the pesticide-free apple matrix for the method verification. The linearities (R2), limit of detections, limit of quantifications and mean recovery values of the pesticides ranged between 0.990-0.999, 0.83-3 μg kg­-1, 2.76-9.99 μg kg­-1 and 70.3-119% (with relative standard deviation ≤20%), respectively. The results were evaluated according to the European Union maximum residue limits (EU-MRL). The residues were lower and higher than the EU-MRL with a ratio of 37.7% and 32.1% of the tested samples, respectively. The residue levels of diflubenzuron in apples, permethrin in cherries, and dimethoate in pears, apples, and peaches were higher than the EU-MRL. The results of health risk assessments indicated that omethoate and dimethoate have acute and chronic toxicity potential for consumers. Hence, the pesticide use in the study area must be reduced to avoid health risks. Furthermore, alternative management methods should be developed to lower the use of pesticides.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the dissipation kinetics of deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, and hexythiazox in grapes. The QuEChERS method was employed and validated for the precise determination of these three pesticides using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Excellent linearity was observed with regression coefficients exceeding 0.998. Notably, the limits of quantification (LOQ) were significantly lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for grapes by the European Union. The QuEChERS method l recovered 93.23% of the pesticides with an acceptable RSD of 5.35% (n = 180), demonstrating its suitability for quantifying them in grapes. Half-lives of deltamethrin, emamectin benzoate, and hexythiazox in grapes were 2.62-2.68 days, 8.15-7.30 days, and 3.24-4.01 days, respectively, for both single and double doses. Residues of all pesticides fell below the MRLs by the preharvest interval. This suggests that their application can be considered safe for grapes, ensuring both pest control and consumer safety.

This study aimed to detect insecticide, acaricide, and nematicide residues in 92 fresh and 50 dried fig samples collected from locations with intensive fig, Ficus carica L. (Rosales: Moraceae) production in Aydın, Türkiye in 2022. The analysis method was validated according to SANTE 11312/2021 guidelines. The recoveries ranged between 70% and 120%, with repeatability (RSDr) and within-laboratory reproducibility (RSDwR) ≤ 20% and expanded measurement uncertainties below 50% for all insecticides indicating satisfactory analytical performance. In total, 114 different insecticides were screened, revealing residues in 27 samples. Bifenazate was detected in 13 samples, etoxazole in 3 samples, spiromesifen in 5 samples, and both bifenazate and spiromesifen in 6 samples. No detectable residues were found in the dried fig samples. All samples in which bifenazate was detected were above the European Union Maximum Residue Limits (EU-MRL). Etoxazole and spiromesifen, unauthorized in figs, showed etoxazole residues above EU-MRLs, while spiromesifen residues were below EU-MRLs. The acute and chronic health risk indices for the insecticides were found to be below 1, indicating low health risks associated with fig consumption. The risk assessment suggests that fig consumption is safe for consumers.

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) (Rosaceae) is a spring fruits. It is not preferred to be consumed as fresh because it is sour, but it is extremely beneficial for human health. In addition to fresh consumption, it is used in the production of fruit juice, syrup, jam, marmalade, cake and ice cream in the food industry. Sour cherry is grown widely in Tokat and 80-85% of the grown cherries are sold to juice factories. Producers mostly adopt chemical control against pests. In this respect, monitoring pesticide residues on sour cherry is extremely important. This study was carried out to determine the pesticide residue levels in samples taken from sour cherry production areas in Tokat province in 2020. The residue analyses were performed by using QuEChERS method and LC-MS / MS (Liquid Chromatography / Tandem Mass Spectrometer). According to the results, the pesticide residue levels were found below the maximum residue limits (MRL) given in Turkish Food Codex (TFC).

Pepper, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) production is widely cultivated worldwide, with Türkiye ranks third in global pepper production. However, pests in pepper cultivation often necessitate pesticide use, leading to concerns about pesticide residue levels and their potential impact on food safety. This study investigated the dissipation behavior of lufenuron in pepper under field conditions in Tokat, Türkiye in 2022. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe technique was used to analyze residues of lufenuron in pepper. The average recoveries varied from 77% to 97%, with relative standard deviations of 13% for lufenuron. Lufenuron residues administered as recommended dose and double dose degraded in pepper following a first-order kinetic model, with an estimated half-life (t1/2) of 4.33 and 6.42 days in Tokat, 6.80 and 7.45 days in Niksar, respectively. Furthermore, a health risk assessment was conducted, which showed that the chronic risk quotient for lufenuron was much lower than 1. The present results indicated that the health risks posed for consumers by the lufenuron residues were negligible at the recommended dosages.