Abstract:

【Objective】Pesticide residues in the kernels, shells and leaves of hazel and soil from hazel orchards were detected, and health risk assessment of hazel kernel consumption was performed. 【Method】In 10 regions of Liaoning and Jilin, 26 hazel nut, 21 leaf and 21 soil samples were collected from 26 artificial hazelnut orchards. The residue levels of nine organophosphorus compounds (organophosphates, OPs), two organochlorine compounds (organochlorines, OCs) and eight pyrethroids (PYs) were determined with GC-MS, followed by the acute/short-term consumer health index (aHI), hazard quotient (HQ) and cumulative hazard index (cHI) calculation of kernel consumption for consumer health risk assessment. 【Result】Among all 94 samples tested, pesticide residues were detected in 45 samples, and 29 samples had pesticide residue levels higher than the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Among the 26 kernel samples, 26.90% contained more than two types of pesticide residues, and 11.54% contained more than five types of pesticide residues, 19.23% of which were higher than the MRLs of China. In all tested samples, 13 pesticides were found. The highest aHI for short-term risk assessment was 2.45%; the highest HQ for long-term risk assessment was 5.50%. The kernel cumulative risks of OPs, OCs and PYs were 7.98%, 0.08% and 2.07%, respectively. 【Conclusion】Although several pesticide residues were detected in hazel orchards, the levels were not high. Collectively, there are some pesticide residues in hazelnuts (13 types); however, their aHI and cHI have small values that represent lower health risks to consumers.

Key words: hazelnut, pesticide, residue, GC-MS, risk assessment