Establishment of an analytical method that can confirm the presence of pesticide residues in distributed foods and verification of eligibility for the maximum residue limits set for foods

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15801
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Aichi Prefectural Institute of Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Minae 愛知県衛生研究所, 衛生化学部生活科学研究室, 技師 (90525768)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 残留農薬 / 食品分析 / 食品衛生 / 流通食品 / 実態調査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The maximum residue limit of pesticides is set to include not only pesticides but also their metabolites, depending on the target food. In this study, we established a highly sensitive analytical method that can confirm the presence of pesticide residues and their metabolites in distribution foods, and collected data that is the scientific basis for setting standard values. Furthermore, the eligibility of the standard values were verified using the obtained data. After establishing the simultaneous analysis method, we investigated pesticide residues in foods distributed in Aichi Prefecture. As a result, pesticide residues and their metabolites were detected simultaneously in some vegetables, fruits and processed foods. This study provided beneficial data for setting standard values. Our results suggested that the abundance ratio of pesticide residues and their metabolites has a characteristic regularity depending on the type of food.

Free Research Field

衛生学・公衆衛生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食品中の残留農薬については、農薬本体の検出事例は数多く報告されているが、代謝物等についてはほとんどなく、十分に把握されていない。今回、食品中の残留農薬及びその代謝物等の一斉分析法を確立し、流通食品中の実態調査を実施した結果、野菜、果実及び加工食品から農薬本体とともにその代謝物等が検出され、実際にヒトが経口摂取する可能性のある代謝物等についての有用なデータが得られた。また、食品の種類によって本体と代謝物等の存在割合に特徴的な規則性があることが示唆された。今回得られた調査結果の残留基準値設定及び曝露評価への活用が期待される。