Determination of pesticide residues in varieties of pepper sold at different periods and provinces in Turkey and investigation of their adverse effects on human health and the environment

ABSTRACT

Pesticides are dangerous chemicals that can harm to people and the environment when applied inappropriately or in excess. In this research, various pesticide residues were investigated in 48 pepper samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All samples were collected randomly in two periods of time (September and December) from markets and greengrocers in four provinces (Siirt, Mardin, Diyarbakir, and Batman). Considering the means of the first and second periods, diclofop-methyl had the highest concentration of 29.4 ± 7.7 µg kg⁻¹, and diazinon had the lowest of 21.1 ± 4.6 µg kg⁻¹. Based on the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of pesticides specified in the Turkish Food Codex, pyrimethanil, bupirimate, and diclofop-methyl were found to be below the maximum acceptable residue limit, while pyridaphention, dinoseb, diazinon, and pirimiphos-methyl were found to be above the limit. Thus, the current study demonstrated the potential of LC-MS/MS as a crucial technique for accurate measurements and confirmations of pesticides in different pepper varieties.

KEYWORDS:

• Pesticides
• pepper
• health hazards
• LC-MS/MS
• food monitoring, maximum residue limits

Acknowledgements

This manuscript has been prepared from MSc. thesis (Master’s thesis, Republic of Turkey, Siirt University, Institute of Science). This work was supported by the Research Fund of Siirt University in Turkey with Project Number: 2019-SİUFEB-015.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Highlights

Pesticide residues in varieties of pepper were determined

A crucial technique for the accurate measurement of pesticides was provided

The results were evaluated according to Turkish Food Codex and EU

Diclofop-methyl had the highest concentration of 29.36 ± 7.73 ng kg⁻¹

Pyridaphention, dinoseb, diazinon, and pirimiphos-methyl were above the limits

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2023.2254720

Additional information

Funding

The author certifies that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Şerafettin Aktaş

Şerafettin Aktaş: Writing the original draft, experimentation, discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

Mohammad Tahir Aminzai

Mohammad Tahir Aminzai: Writing and correcting the original draft, review & editing. Discussed the results and commented on the manuscript, critical feedback and helped shape the research.

İbrahim Tegin

İbrahim Tegin: Writing and correcting the original draft, review & editing. Discussed the results and commented on the manuscript, critical feedback, organization and helped shape the research.

Erdal Yabalak

Erdal Yabalak: Writing and correcting the original draft, review & editing. Discussed the results and commented on the manuscript, critical feedback, organization and helped shape the research. Design of the article and corrections.

Orhan Acar

Orhan Acar: Writing the original draft, discussed the results and commented on the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.