A review on the pesticides in coffee: Usage, health effects, detection, and mitigation

Abstract

Coffee is considered among the most popular beverages and is classified as the second most exported item worldwide. The presence of pesticides in this staple commodity is a challenge to import and export activities, in addition to the fact that pesticides are toxins of public health concern. Even if pesticides are applied properly and their residues are within the acceptable range, it is important to know the fate of these pesticides prior to their ingestion. A plethora of research has been done to optimize methods and thus to have valid procedures to test for the presence of pesticides in coffee. In this review, the analytical methods used in these articles to detect and quantify the pesticides in coffee beans, roasted coffee, and coffee infusion were identified. This review highlights as well the main factors that play a key role in having good separation, identification, and recovery of pesticide residues in the aforementioned items. In addition, the review explains the effect of pesticides on human health and the mitigation techniques for pesticide exposure.

Effect of processing method (natural, washed, honey, fermentation, maceration) on the availability of heavy metals in specialty coffee

“…Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world due to its sensory properties and the stimulating effect of caffeine [ 1 ]. Coffee contains many beneficial substances but can also contain potentially harmful substances due to improper processing, subsequent handling, or low-quality green beans [ 2 , 3 ]. Specialty coffee is the term used for coffee that has a standardised process of production, from choosing criteria for coffee plantations to coffee brews that pass preliminary tests of grading and cupping before being served to the client [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Glyphosate residues in coffee bean: Impact of application methods and compliance with MRLs

“…The quantity of pesticide residues in coffee beans is influenced by several factors, including application methods (e.g., spray equipment, protective devices, nozzles, pressure, and volume) and the timing concerning the crop phenological stage (Reis et al, 2015;Palma et al, 2023). For instance, when glyphosate is applied close to the harvest when fruits are ripe or dried, there is a high risk of residues increasing in coffee beans (Merhi et al, 2022) because fruits are no longer undergoing physiological maturation processes (Cassia et al, 2015). Moreover, coffee harvest coincides with a low rainfall period, hindering leaching and degradation of the herbicide, raising the possibility that glyphosate concentrations in coffee beans exceed the maximum residue limit (MRL).…”

Determination of pesticide residues in urine by chromatography-mass spectrometry: methods and applications

“…However, only a few, including Germany, France, Israel, United States, and Canada, have successfully integrated human biomonitoring studies with health data ( 5 ). In this regard, health risk assessments play a crucial role in informing decision-makers on protecting human health and the environment ( 6 , 7 ), with pesticide residues in food emerging as a particularly relevant concern ( 8 ).…”