Dirección de Trabajos Fin de Máster y Trabajos de

In accordance with the provisions of the General Directorate of Health of the Region of Lombardy, a defined number of samples were analyzed within the frame of the monitoring program of pesticide residues in food of plant origin. The local laboratories examined both conventional and organic farming products, and delivered their findings to the 15 Local Health Units of the Region: Bergamo (BG), Brescia (BS), Como (CO), Cremona (CR), Lecco (LC), Lodi (LO), Milan (MI1, MI2, MI3, MI Città), Pavia (PV), Sondrio (SO), Valle Camonica-Sebino (VCS) and Varese (VA). Each year, the laboratories were required to provide the list of the active substances analysed, together with the results of the analyses performed. The findings were reported in an apposite form in which the following information was included for each sample: commodity analyzed, sample origin (Lombardy, rest of Italy, rest of

Europe, non-EU countries), result of the analysis. The samples with pesticide residues above the limit of detection (LOD) were characterised by the name/s of the active substance/s detected and respective concentration in mg/kg; samples with pesticide residues above the national MRL (19 May 200 and 27 August 2004) were identified as irregular.

The International Centre for Pesticide Safety and Health Risk Prevention (ICPS), on behalf of the regional General Directorate of Health, has been collecting the pesticide analyses results provided by the Local Health Units. Since 1996, results have been stored in a Microsoft ACCESS database, which was created for this purpose. The Centre elaborates and subsequently communicates aggregate statistics to the general public through its web site (http://www.icps.it).

During the period 2002–2005, a total of 3508 samples were analyzed for pesticide residues, among which were 266 samples of organic farming products. It should be mentioned that the control of pesticide residues in organic food was launched in 2002.

For the purpose of this study, the data on samples of organic foodstuffs were extracted from the Microsoft Access database into an EXCEL spreadsheet in order to carry out a statistical analysis. The raw commodities were classified into groups (citrus fruits, legumes, vegetables, potatoes, processed products, cereals, and fruit other than citrus). The outcomes of the statistical analysis were reported by food group, year, and origin of the sample and presence/absence of pesticide residues.

An exposure assessment was performed in the case where the concentration of the pesticide was above the MRL. The estimation of long- term exposure was performed for two different groups of the Italian population (adults, children and toddlers), based on the average consumption data (Turrini, A. et al. 2001) and average body weight values reported previously (66, 51 kg for adults and 41, 61 kg for children/toddlers, respectively). The chronic dietary intake of pesticide residues was calculated as follows:

Residue Intake (mg/kg bw/day) = Residue Concentration (mg/kg) × Food Intake (kg/day)/Body Weight (kg).

An acute exposure assessment was performed taking into account the National Estimated Short-term Intake (NESTI) (WHO 1997) as calculated

eaters’ population (adults and children/toddlers) (WHO 1998). The unit weight used in the calculation was derived from the GEMS/FOOD database (WHO 1998) while a variability factor of 7 was applied.

The calculated dietary intake values were compared to the relevant toxicological endpoints (acceptable daily intake, ADI and acute reference dose, ARfD), established for the pesticide of interest. The estimated dietary intake should be less than the established toxicological value (or less than 100%, when expressed as a percent of the toxicological value).

Results

During the period 2002–2005, within the frame of the pesticides monitoring program implemented by the 15 Local Health Units in the region of Lombardy, 3.508 samples of food of plant origin have been analyzed. Among them, 266 (7.6%) were of organic origin (4.6% in 2002, 9.3% in 2003, 9.2% in 2004 and 7.4% in 2005). A summary of the overall results of the program (total number of samples with residues above the MRL), regarding both conventional and organic food samples, is provided in Table 6.

Table 6: Results of the monitoring program of pesticide residues in Lombardy (2002–2005): total number of samples, samples with detectable pesticide residues [single and multiple residue, residue above the maximum residue limit (MRL)].

Ye 2002 2003 2004 2005 T * Multi-residue samples o

ar Conventional Organic Conventional Organic Conventional Organic Conventional Organic

755 36 210 (62)* 3 545 33 8 - 666 68 178 (58)* 2 (1)* 488 66 8 1 771 78 220 (96)* - 551 78 9 - 1050 84 266 (70)* 2 (1)* 784 82 11 - tal 3242 266 874 (286)* 7 (2)* 2368 259 36 1 Number of samples

Samples with pesticide

residues Residues < LOD Residues > MRL

The number of conventional and organic samples analysed and reported per year in every Local Health Unit by the analytical laboratories involved in the program, is shown in Table 7. It should be remarked that in general, higher numbers of food samples analysed correspond to more densely populated areas.

Table 7: Number of samples analysed and reported during 2002–2005 per Local Health Unit in the region of Lombardy and percentage of the population.

Conventional (Organic) Total Conventional (Organic) Total Conventional (Organic) Total Conventional (Organic) Total BG 150 (22) 172 111 (26) 137 110 (29) 139 242 (38) 280 10,6 BS 7 (2) 9 29 29 113 (1) 114 104 (2) 106 11 CO 66 66 61 61 62 62 64 64 5,9 CR 37 37 36 (3) 39 37 (2) 39 43 (3) 46 3,7 LC 21 21 18 (1) 19 24 24 24 24 3,4 LO 8 8 19 (1) 20 17 (3) 20 26 (3) 29 2,2 MILANO Città 140 140 91 (15) 106 114 (26) 140 108 (22) 130 14,5 MI 1 53 53 49 49 67 67 85 85 10,2 MI 2 2 2 42 (3) 45 33 (1) 34 56 (3) 59 5,7 MI 3 9 9 - - 29 29 34 (2) 36 11,1 MN 77 77 42 42 - - 62 62 4,1 PV 86 (10) 96 58 (16) 74 61 (16) 77 69 (11) 80 5,5 SO 44 44 42 42 42 42 26 26 2 VA 36 (1) 37 65 (3) 68 58 58 98 98 1,1 VCS 19 (1) 20 3 3 4 4 9 9 9 TOTAL 755 (36) 791 666 (68) 734 771 (78) 849 1050 (84) 1134 100 2002 2003 2004 2005 % Tot Population

The number of active substances analysed by the laboratories during the same period is reported in Table 8. Unfortunately, although all laboratories were requested to supply the list of active substances for which analysis was performed, in some cases this information has not been provided. In total, taking into consideration the overlapping analytical capabilities, the number of different active substances analyzed in Lombardy was 194 in 2002, 191 in 2003, 203 in 2004 and 209 in 2005.

Table 8: Number of active substances analyzed per year in Lombardy laboratories (2002– 2005). BG BS CO CR LC LO MILANO Città MI 1 MI 2 MI 3 MN PV SO VA VCS 2002 79 - 112 74 61 124 125 21 - - 54 25 9 39 - 2003 70 - 114 71 78 125 125 30 118 - - - - 43 33 2004 69 - 114 61 32 141 150 - 136 - - 28 - - - 2005 68 - 112 70 28 142 127 32 142 - - 34 68 23 71

The different types of organic commodities sampled were classified into seven groups, as shown in Table 9: citrus fruits (20), legumes (4), vegetables (40), potatoes (27), processed products (90), cereals (36), and fruit other than citrus (49). The most frequently sampled foodstuffs were processed products such as pasta, biscuits, fruit and vegetable juices, cornflakes and flour (34%). Rice samples represented the majority of cereals

Table 9: Number and percentages of organic food commodities sampled in the period 2002– 2005 in Lombardy, divided in seven classes.

2002 2003 2004 2005 Total % Total

Citrus Fruit 1 6 6 7 20 7,5

Fruits (other than citrus) 1 14 15 19 49 18,4

Legume - 3 1 - 4 1,5 Vegetable 3 8 16 13 40 15 Potato 3 3 11 10 27 10,2 Processed Product 18 24 19 29 90 33,9 Cereal 10 10 10 6 36 13,5 Total 36 68 78 84 266 100

Approximately 29% of the collected samples originated from Lombardy, 62% from Italy excluding the area of Lombardy, and only a limited number from EU countries (except Italy) and non-EU countries (2,6% and 3% respectively) (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Origin of organic foodstuffs sampled (total number of samples = 266) during the period 2002–2005, in percentage. Origin of organic foodstuffs samples 62% 3% 28,90% 2,6% 3,4% Lombardy Italy EU Extra‐EU Unknown

Only seven out of 266 organic farming samples contained pesticide residues above the LOD; the active substances detected belong mainly to organophosphorus compounds (Table 10). In two cases multi-residue samples were identified; in one sample of potato four different pesticides were detected (permethrine, tetradifon, dicofol, bromopropylate), whereas one

apple sample was found to contain residues of two active substances (Azinfos-methyl and Carbaryl). In all cases, the concentrations were below the MRL, with the exception of the potato sample were the concentration of one active substance (dicofol) was above the MRL.

Table 10: Lombardy, 2002–2005: samples with detectable pesticide residues, by year, origin, name of active substance detected and chemical class, MRL, residue concentration (expressed in mg/kg of food) and Limit of Detection (LOD).

Commodity Origin

Active

Substance Chemical Class

MRL Italy (mg/kg) Residue (mg/kg) LOD (mg/kg)

Mandarin Unknown _{Primiphos Methyl Organophosphorus 2 0,2 0,01}

Rice Italy

Primiphos Methyl Organophosphorus 5 0,02 0,01

Rice Italy _{Primiphos Methyl Organophosphorus 5 0,02 0,01}

Kiwi Extra EU _{Permethrin Synthetic pyetroids 0,05 0,03 0,01}

Permethrin Synthetic pyetroids 0,05 0,006 0,05

Tetradifon Organophosphorus 1,5 0,044 0,01

Dicofol Organochlorine 0,02 0,06 0,01

Bromopropylate Benzylate 0,05 0,012 0,01

Lemon Italy Methidathion Organophosphorus 2 0,22 0,01

Azinphos Methyl Organophosphorus 0,5 0,06 0,02

Carbaryl Carbamate 3 0,98 0,05 2002 2003 2005 Apple Lombardy Potato Italy

The active substances detected in the samples are not included in Annex II of the Council Regulation 91/2092/EEC (91/2092/EEC) and therefore not allowed in organic agriculture. Furthermore, regardless of the fact that their use is only allowed in conventional agriculture, it is reminded that as all plant protection products utilised inside the European Union, these should be authorized under the principles laid down by the Council Directive 91/414/EEC (91/414/EEC). The Directive lays down uniform rules on the evaluation, authorisation, placing on the market and control, within the EU, of plant protection products and the active substances they contain; only products whose active substances are listed in Annex I of the Directive are authorised.

In the case of dicofol, where during the monitoring period 2003, the concentration of residues found in organic potatoes was above the MRL (0.06 mg/kg), a consumer risk assessment was performed. It should be mentioned that the European evaluation for dicofol for inclusion in Annex I of Council Directive 91/414/EEC is still pending (SANCO 2006), and an Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) has not been set. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) was

Chronic dietary risk assessment (Table 11) performed on the basis of the average consumption data for potatoes for two groups of the Italian population (adults, children and toddlers) (Turrini, A. 2001) shows negligible risk for consumers’ health, since dicofol intake is far below the ADI, both for adults (3.5% ADI), and children and toddlers (5%).

Table 11: Chronic dietary exposure of Italian population (adult, children and toddlers) to dicofol found in organic potatoes (monitoring period 2003; residue concentration: 0,06 mg/kg).

A Chil Body Weight (kg) Potato Consumption (g/day) Dicofol Intake (µg/kg bw/day) % ADI dult (18-64 years old) 66,51 78,7 0,071 3,5

dren and Toddler

(1-17 years old) 41,61 72,1 0,104 5

Regarding acute exposure to dicofol residues, in absence of an established ARfD, a “worst-case scenario” was considered, in which the ADI value was used as the ARfD. Results in Table 12 show that the calculated acute consumption, expressed as a percent of the toxicological endpoint, was below 100%.

Table 12: Acute dietary exposure of Italian population (adult, children and toddlers) to dicofol found in organic potatoes during the monitoring period 2003 (residue concentration 0.06 mg/kg, variability factor 7). Body Weight (kg) Large Portion (g*) Unit Weight (g**) NESTI (mg/kg bw/day) % ARfD Adult (18- 64 years old) 66,51 457 0,071 0,00128 63,9

Children and Toddler

(1-17 years old) 41,61 394 0,104 0,00195 97,6

*Italian population consumption data *   * French data              

C

onclusions

In spite of being properly grown and processed, organic foods are not necessarily free from pesticides and other synthetic chemicals of conventional farming (Magkos, F. et al. 2006). Contamination may be due to cultivation on previously contaminated soil, percolation of chemicals through soil, unauthorized use of pesticides, cross-contamination by wind drift, spray drift from neighbouring conventional farms, contaminated groundwater or irrigation water, or even occur during transport, processing and storage. Presence of synthetic chemicals, however, does not necessarily preclude that the food can be described as organic, providing all requirements related to the production process have been fulfilled. Organic fruits and vegetables can be expected to contain fewer agrochemical residues than conventionally grown alternatives.

In our study, the comparison of the monitoring results obtained from conventional and organic food samples showed a 10-fold greater contamination in conventional products (27%) compared to organic food samples (2.6%). Results were similar regarding the presence of multiple residues, present in 0.8% of organic and 8.8% of conventional food samples and in agreement with the findings from other studies (Baker, B.P. et al. 2002). In the region of Lombardy, the concentrations of pesticides detected in organic commodities were in their greatest part below the MRL set for conventional products. Only in one sample (organic potatoes), the detected residues were above the MRL; yet the intake of the active substance (dicofol), as calculated for two groups of the Italian population, was far below the ADI (adults 3,5% ADI, children and toddlers 5%). During the same monitoring period, dicofol residues were detected in 20 samples of conventional food products, including potatoes. Dicofol concentrations were below the MRL, with the exception of two samples (pears and strawberries). Therefore, in an attempt to compare organic and conventional foodstuffs in terms of potential risks for human health due to dietary exposure to pesticide residues, conclusions cannot be drawn easily, since in both cases the presence of residues above the set MRL is very low.

Health and with the cooperation of the Local Prevention Units and local laboratories, demonstrate that public health has been safeguarded with success in the recent years. There is a need for more detailed information on analytical methodologies that were used in some of the laboratories . Moreover, given the fact that the complete dataset resulting from the monitoring program is collected and available for elaboration only after the end of each annual monitoring period, improvements in the flow of information are regarded as a prerequisite for checking the completeness of the information provided. It maybe be mentioned that presently actions are being taken in the Region of Lombardy in order to improve the current practices. Furthermore, future efforts will be continued in this direction in order to maintain consumers’ trust.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Ms. Romilde Balsa (ICPS) for her help in data analysis, to Dr. Maurizio Ronchin for helpful advice and to Maurizio Salamana and Luigi Macchi (Region of Lombardy, General Directorate of Health, Prevention Unit) for supporting ICPS participation in the regional monitoring programme of pesticide residues in foodstuffs.