Pesticide exposure in greenhouse workers poses considerable health risks, requiring continuous evaluations of pesticide residues and their potential effects on human health.
This article evaluated the level of pesticide residues in greenhouse workers' sera in Jiroft County, Iran, and assessed the possible health risks. The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 20, 2023, to January 20, 2024, and involved 84 greenhouse workers. Seventy-four pesticide residues were detected using the QuEChERS-UHPLC-MS/MS method. Health risk assessments were carried out, focusing on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. The findings demonstrated that insecticides (48.4%) and fungicides (30.3%) were the most frequent, and diazinon was the most commonly detected pesticide. Health risk assessments revealed that exposure to emamectin benzoate and pyraclostrobin resulted in higher health risks, with emamectin benzoate indicating a non-carcinogenic risk (hazard quotient: 2.3). The carcinogenic risk findings proposed that it seems unlikely that pyraclostrobin and emamectin benzoate are carcinogenic. The humid and semi-closed conditions of greenhouses enhance the risk of pesticide exposure, affecting vulnerable populations.
The study indicates the need for promoted safety protocols and training programs to reduce exposure risks. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term health impacts of pesticide exposure and the effectiveness of intervention strategies.
Salari, E., Esmaeilian, M., Faryabi, R., Mahdavi, V., Mashayekhi-Sardoo, H., & Askarpour, H. (2025). Evaluation of Pesticide Residues in Greenhouse Workers' Blood Serum Using QuEChERS-UHPLC-MS/MS Method and Associated Health Risks. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 115612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2025.115612
Source: Science Direct
