Pesticide residues in fresh fruits imported into the United Arab Emirates
Tareq M. Osaili,
Maryam S. Al Sallagi,
Dinesh K. Dhanasekaran,
Wael A.M. Bani Odeh,
Hajer J. Al Ali,
Ahmed A.S.A. Al Ali,
Leila Cheikh Ismail,
Khadija O. Al. Mehri,
Vijayan A. Pisharath,
Richard Holley,
Reyad S. Obaid
Affiliations
Tareq M. Osaili
Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan; Corresponding author.
Maryam S. Al Sallagi
Studies and Risk Assessment Unit, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dinesh K. Dhanasekaran
Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Wael A.M. Bani Odeh
Food Studies and Systems, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Hajer J. Al Ali
Studies and Risk Assessment Unit, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ahmed A.S.A. Al Ali
Food Studies and Systems, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Leila Cheikh Ismail
Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Khadija O. Al. Mehri
Food and Environment Laboratory, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Vijayan A. Pisharath
Food and Environment Laboratory, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Richard Holley
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
Reyad S. Obaid
Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Pesticides are a major public health issue connected with excessive use because they negatively impact health and the environment. Pesticide toxicity has been connected to various human illnesses by means of pesticide exposure in direct or indirect ways. A total of 4513 samples of imported fresh fruits were collected from Dubai ports between 2018 to 2020. Their contamination by pesticides was evaluated using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The display of monitoring results was based on the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) standard as per the procedures of the European Union. Eighty-one different pesticide residues were detected in the tested fruit samples. In 73.2% of the samples, the pesticide levels were ≥ MRL, while 26.8% were > MRL standards. Chlorpyrifos, carbendazim, cypermethrin, and azoxystrobin were the most frequently detected pesticides in more than 150 samples. Longan (81.4%) and rambutan (66.7%) showed the highest number of imported samples with multiple pesticide residues > MRL. These results highlight the need to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits, particularly samples imported into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Fruit samples with residues > MRL are considered unfit for consumption and prevented from entering commerce in the UAE.
