Screening and assessing of pesticide residues and their health risks in vegetable field soils from the Eastern Nile Delta, Egypt

The harmful effects of pesticide misuse on human health and the environment have become evident; so, this study aimed to monitor pesticide residues in soils of vegetable fields collected from the Eastern Nile Delta region, Egypt and to assess the potential health risks associated with them. Pesticide residues were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Obtained results revealed that 100% of collected samples were contaminated with pesticides; residues of 33 compounds were detected in analyzed samples belonging to different chemical groups. Most detected pesticides (44%) were non-persistent and 40% were moderately persistent. While 1313% and 3% were persistent and very persistent compounds, respectively. Also, 36.7% and 30% of samples have two and three pesticides. Chlorpyrifos and propamocarb were the most dominant compounds that had widespread use across the study area. The number of detected pesticides per crop ranged from 1 to 16 (potato soil), followed by cucumber and tomato (13 pesticides), while one compound was detected in sweet potato soil. Soil organic matter content had a positive correlation with the total concentration of pesticide residues; however, no correlations were found with soil clay, pH and electrical conductivity contents. The human health risks of pesticides in the study soils were within acceptable levels. However, more attention should be paid in the future to decreasing the pesticide load and take place pesticide residue monitoring on vegetable soils.