RISK ASSESSMENT OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD ON CROATIAN MARKET: SHOULD WE WORRY?

Abstract Croatian Food Agency conducted in 2011 a survey on citizen's perception about the risks in food. Representative sample included 580 examinees, aged 15 -50 years within entire Croatian territory. Results show that 61% of respondents are very and fairly concerned due to presence of pesticide residues in food. Only small proportions, 26%, are not very worried and 12% not worried at all. The aim of this study is to assess the acute exposure of consumers from pesticide residues in products that can be found on Croatian market. The assessment was performed based on surveillance (monitoring) results of pesticides in products on market in Croatia for the year 2007, 2008, and 2009. Samples, domestic and imported, belong to the category of fruits, vegetables, cereals and their derivatives. Sampling was conducted through two periods, spring-summer and autumn-winter with respect to availability of products on the market. From total of 650 samples analysed, 625 samples did not contain measurable values of the active substances and 25 samples showed the presence of some active ingredients of pesticides above the legal tolerance limits. To determine acute risk for different consumer groups, exposure was calculated and compared with values of toxicological limits. Results showed that out of 650 analysed samples MRL exceed 4% and acute risk was found for 1% of the samples. It was concluded that acute risk for consumers in our country can be considered rare, except for oranges and lettuce with high concentrations of pesticides for all consumers groups, especially for children