Antimicrobial and Pesticide Residues in Animal-Source Foods in Bangladesh: A Meta-Analysis with Probabilistic Dietary Exposure and Health-Risk Assessment.
Jul 2026· Journal of Food Protection· Vol 89, pp.
100882
· 0 citations· 36 references
Medicine
Abstract
Intensifying livestock, poultry and aquaculture production in Bangladesh has been accompanied by unregulated antimicrobial and persistent organochlorine pesticide use, yet no national synthesis has linked residue occurrence in animal-source foods (ASF) to consumer health risk. This study aimed to pool the prevalence and concentration of antimicrobial and pesticide residues in Bangladeshi ASF and to estimate dietary exposure and risk using deterministic and probabilistic frameworks benchmarked against health-based guidance values. Following PRISMA 2020, five databases were searched from January 2010 to April 2026. Random-effects models (Freeman-Tukey transformation, DerSimonian-Laird estimator) pooled prevalence across five matrices. Estimated daily intakes were combined with national consumption data and JECFA/JMPR acceptable daily intakes (ADI) to derive hazard quotients (HQ), a cumulative hazard index (HI) and margins of exposure (MOE); a 10 000-iteration Monte-Carlo simulation characterized high-consumer (P95) exposure. Thirty-five studies (5 255 samples) were analyzed. Pooled prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI 8.8-17.6; I2 = 95.8%), highest in farmed fish (40.3%) and lowest in egg (4.7%); tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and organochlorines predominated. For the average adult all HQ were ≪ 1 and the cumulative HI was 0.031; heptachlor and dieldrin dominated (P95 %ADI 6.2 and 4.7). The child HI (≈ 0.062) remained below unity; chloramphenicol P95 MOE fell to 253. Central-tendency dietary risk is low, but high-consumer tails, cumulative exposure, prohibited-substance detection and small-study effects justify strengthened, Codex-aligned residue surveillance, withdrawal-period enforcement and risk-based national monitoring within a One-Health framework.
Dietary exposure to pesticide mixtures is recognized as an important food safety challenge worldwide, particularly in countries with intensive agricultural production. Regulatory monitoring programs focus primarily on compliance with maximum residue limits (MRLs), whereas cumulative exposure to pesticide mixtures remains insufficiently addressed. This study investigated the occurrence of eleven currently used pesticides in 20 commonly consumed plant-based foods (60 samples) marketed in Brazil and assessed regulatory compliance and human health risks associated with dietary exposure. Residues were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and concentrations were compared with Brazilian MRLs and crop authorization status. Risk characterization included the hazard quotient (HQ), the hazard index (HI), and the carcinogenic risk (CRisk), estimated using cumulative assessment groups based on shared toxicological targets. Multiple residues were detected across all commodities, with chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos, imidacloprid, malathion, and fipronil most frequently associated with non-compliant samples. Several residues corresponded to pesticides not authorized for the respective crops, suggesting misuse, environmental contamination, or compliance failures; imidacloprid exceeded its MRL in zucchini by more than 70-fold. The carcinogenic risk from atrazine remained below accepted thresholds. In contrast, cumulative non-carcinogenic risk identified cassava, strawberry, and spinach as the commodities of greatest concern, with an HI of 3.16 for cassava. Fipronil residues drove these results, accounting for 83–99% of the cumulative hazard. These findings indicate that regulatory compliance alone may not capture the health risks of pesticide mixtures. Strengthened monitoring, improved traceability, and cumulative risk approaches are needed to protect consumer health and support evidence-based regulation.
Gabriel Henrique Savietto, A. da-Silva, Pedro Henrique Da Silveira Neves et al.· Foods· 0 citations
Potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination of food systems has emerged as an important environmental and public health concern in many developing countries, including Uganda, owing to rapid urbanization, industrialization, mining activities, wastewater reuse, informal waste disposal, and expanding urban agriculture. This review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed and selected grey literature on the occurrence of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in cereals, vegetables, tubers, livestock products, fish, fruits, and processed foods consumed in Uganda. A structured literature synthesis and screening-level dietary risk assessment using estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), carcinogenic risk (CR), and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) were conducted to identify contamination hotspots, priority exposure pathways, and potential public health implications. The available evidence revealed substantial spatial variability, with contamination consistently concentrated in mining-influenced agricultural areas, wastewater-irrigated farms, municipal dumpsites, industrial corridors, and urban food markets. Vegetables, cereals, livestock products, fish, and street-vended foods exhibited the greatest contamination burdens, while Pb and Cd were the PTEs most frequently reported exceeding WHO/FAO, Codex Alimentarius, and Ugandan food safety limits. Screening-level risk estimates indicated that Pb, Cd, and Cr contributed most to cumulative dietary exposure, with children consistently exhibiting higher EDI, THQ, HI, and TCR values than adults because of greater food intake relative to body weight. Although cumulative HI and TCR values exceeded recommended screening thresholds in several hotspot regions, these estimates should be interpreted as conservative screening-level indicators derived from heterogeneous published datasets rather than nationally representative measures of dietary exposure. Overall, the evidence indicates that PTE contamination in Ugandan food systems is predominantly hotspot-driven and highlights the need for targeted surveillance, standardized monitoring and reporting, improved pollution control, and strengthened food safety management to reduce chronic dietary exposure and protect public health.
Gabson Baguma, Gadson Bamanya, Allan Gonzaga et al.· Pollutants· 0 citations
Mango (Mangifera indica L.), particularly the ‘Nam Dok Mai’ cultivar, is an economically important fruit crop in Thailand and is widely produced in the Lower Northern Region for domestic consumption and export. However, pesticide residues in mango remain a major food safety concern because of their potential effects on consumer health and compliance with national and international maximum residue limits (MRLs). This study investigated pesticide residue contamination and assessed the dietary health risks associated with mango consumption among different age groups. A total of 255 composite mango samples were collected from production areas in Phichit, Phitsanulok, and Phetchabun provinces, Thailand. Pesticide residues were analyzed using a validated modified QuEChERS extraction method combined with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Multiple pesticide residues were frequently detected in the samples analyzed. Of the detected residues, 22 pesticides exceeded Thai MRL standards and 14 exceeded Codex Alimentarius MRLs. Dietary exposure was evaluated using acute and chronic hazard quotients (HQa and HQc) and cumulative hazard indices (HIa and HIc). The results showed that acute exposure to several insecticides, particularly carbofuran, lambda-cyhalothrin, and fenpropathrin, exceeded acceptable risk thresholds in all age groups. At the pesticide-class level, cumulative acute exposure to organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids showed HIa values greater than 1 in several age groups, suggesting potential short-term health concerns, especially among children. In contrast, chronic exposure to individual pesticides and cumulative pesticide groups remained below the level of concern for all age groups, with HQc and HIc values below 1. These findings indicate that although long-term dietary risk from mango consumption is within acceptable levels, acute exposure to certain pesticide residues may pose non-negligible health risks. Continuous residue monitoring, stricter enforcement of good agricultural practices, and evidence-based risk management are essential to ensure mango safety and protect consumers.
Kanlayanee Boonthawee, Phannika Tongchai, Pichamon Yana et al.· Foods· 0 citations
Background: Increased concerns over the potential health impacts on consumers from widespread pyrethroid use in agriculture have necessitated the implementation of maximum residue limits (MRLs) on food products. In Thailand, while such regulations exist, their enforcement remains incomplete. The study aims to monitor pyrethroid contamination in Khon Kaen market vegetables and evaluate the risks posed to human health.
Method: A total of 100 samples representing ten different fresh vegetable types were collected from May to July 2024. Pyrethroid residues in vegetables collected from both structured and unstructured markets in Khon Kaen, Thailand, were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) with a micro electron capture detector (μECD). Health risks for both short-term and long-term exposure were calculated by combining the detected pyrethroid residue levels with estimated dietary intake data, utilizing a relevant database.
Results: Samples of Chinese kale contained the highest levels of lambda-cyhalothrin detected at 0.71 mg/kg and bifenthrin at 0.70 mg/kg. The structured markets within Muang District had a high prevalence of detectable residues from pyrethroid groups. An evaluation of the short-term (sHI) and long-term (cHQ) health risks associated with the consumption of these vegetables indicates potential health risks exceeding acceptable thresholds, particularly among children.
Conclusion: This investigation reveals pyrethroid contamination in vegetables from the Khon Kaen province markets in Thailand. It is vital to reduce contamination to ensure food security as well as educate consumers about this contamination to increase their food safety.
Keywords: Pyrethroids, Pesticides, Maximum Residue Limits, Vegetables, Insecticide residues, Health risk assessment
Kodchakorn Uengchuen, P. Laoraksawong, Tongpak Donprajum et al.· Journal of Health Research· 0 citations
Mercury presents a significant environmental health hazard due to its ability to bioaccumulate in the food chain, posing risks through the consumption of contaminated fish. This systematic review aims to analyze and compare mercury levels in human populations, specifically focusing on the health risks associated with fish consumption in urban versus rural areas. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and included articles published between January 1, 2020 and March 15, 2025 from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. A total of 768 articles were identified, and seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed, and study quality was assessed using the JBI checklist and risk of bias assessment with ROBINS-E. Data were extracted and synthesized using RevMan 5.4 for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed substantially higher mercury levels in rural populations (SMD 2.76; 95% CI: 2.63–2.89), largely influenced by dietary patterns, predominant fish species, and environmental contamination levels. Health effects associated with elevated mercury exposure included neurodevelopmental risks, elevated mercury levels in pregnant women, and increased vulnerability among populations with high reliance on freshwater fish. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to mitigate mercury exposure while maintaining the nutritional benefits of fish consumption.
A. A. S. Sadana, Tanthowi Jauhari, John Ringo et al.· Journal of Public Health and...· 0 citations
Pesticide contamination of cereal grains has become a growing food safety concern because cereals constitute a major component of the human diet and represent an important route of dietary exposure to agrochemical residues. This study investigated the occurrence of pesticide residues in commonly consumed cereals marketed in northern Nigeria, determined their compliance with maximum residue limits (MRLs), and evaluated the associated non-carcinogenic health risks to adults and children. Composite samples of beans, sorghum, maize, wheat, local rice, and imported rice were collected from representative markets and analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Exceedance factors (EFs) were calculated by comparing measured concentrations with established MRLs, comparing pesticide residue concentrations among cereal types using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test where appropriate, and assessing the associated non-carcinogenic health risks for adults and children through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure pathways. Four pesticide residues, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, pendimethalin, and propiconazole, were detected at concentrations ranging from 0.06 to 0.90 mg kg⁻¹. All detected residues exceeded their respective MRLs, with exceedance factors ranging from 1.2 to 18.0. Pendimethalin exhibited the highest contamination in maize (0.90 mg kg⁻¹; EF = 18.0), followed by local rice (0.86 mg kg⁻¹; EF = 17.2) and sorghum (0.85 mg kg⁻¹; EF = 17.0), whereas wheat contained the highest imidacloprid concentration (0.73 mg kg⁻¹; EF = 14.6). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant differences in imidacloprid concentrations among the cereal types (p < 0.05). Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test further revealed that wheat contained significantly higher imidacloprid concentrations than beans, sorghum, maize, and local rice (p < 0.001). Despite these exceedances, all estimated HQ and HI values for adults and children remained below the acceptable safety threshold of 1.0, indicating negligible non-carcinogenic health risks under the current exposure scenarios. Children consistently exhibited higher exposure estimates than adults due to lower body weight and greater intake relative to body mass. The widespread occurrence of pesticide residues above regulatory limits highlights the need for strengthened pesticide management, routine surveillance, and improved compliance with good agricultural practices. Continuous monitoring remains essential to minimise dietary exposure and ensure consumer safety.
N. Abdulkadir, A. Abdulhameed, Ezra Abalis Gaya et al.· Annals of Environmental Scie...· 0 citations