Estimation of the Risk of Chronic Exposure of the Brazilian Population to Pesticide Residues by Eating Table Tomatoes

Abstract

This study estimated the risk of chronic exposure of the Brazilian population to pesticide residues by eating table tomatoes. This risk was evaluated taking into consideration 46 pesticides that were quantified in tomato samples by the Programa de Análise de Resíduos de Agrotóxicos em Alimentos (PARA) from 2013-2015. To identify those who were most susceptible to this risk, estimates were made considering the following population variables: gender (male and female); stage of life (adolescence, adult and old age); and place of residence (Brazilian zones and regions). The estimated daily intake (EDI) and the percentage of acceptable daily intake (%ADI) were determined to estimate the risk of chronic exposure. A risk of chronic exposure was considered when the %ADI was greater than 100%. The exposure of the total Brazilian population, men, women, adolescents, adults, the elderly, residents in urban and rural areas, and those living in the north, northeast, midwest, southeast and south regions to pesticides through the ingestion of tomatoes was safe because all the calculated %ADI were less than 100%. Thus, the Brazilian population was not exposed to chronic dietary risk when consuming tomatoes contaminated with pesticides.