Occurrence, distribution, and dietary risk assessment of pesticides in apples at the provincial scale

Apples are widely favored by consumers, but the presence of pesticide residues can pose risks to their quality and safety. This study investigated the residual levels of pesticides in commercial apples from 11 cities in Shanxi Province, using analytical methods to detect 102 pesticides. A total of 34 pesticides were detected, with the highest detection rate observed for carbendazim (78.95%), tebuconazole (57.14%), and acetamiprid (53.38%). Pesticide concentrations ranged from below 2 μg/kg to 522.96 μg/kg, with all levels remaining within the maximum residue limits (MRLs) in China. The retention factors, which characterize the distribution pattern, exhibited a significantly positive correlation with the base-10 logarithms of the octanol-water partition coefficient (pKow). All detected pesticides showed acceptable acute dietary risks, with values below 21.33% for different consumer groups, as assessed by deterministic and probabilistic models. This study enhances the understanding of residual pesticide levels and dietary risks of pesticides in apples at the provincial scale and promotes the rational application of pesticides.