Pesticide Residues in Common Vegetables: A Probabilistic Risk Assessment Using Monte Carlo Simulation for Adult and Child Consumers.

This study investigates the presence of noxious pesticide residues in commonly consumed vegetables from Kerman Province, Iran, and evaluated the probabilistic dietary health risks for adult and child consumers using Monte Carlo simulation. Targeted samples were analyzed using a modified QuEChERS method coupled with LC-MS-MS and GC-MS-MS. The method demonstrates the linearity range of 0.015-0.50 mg kg-1 (R2 > 0.9975), recoveries of 81.2%-111.5%, limits of detection of 0.004-0.006 mg kg-1, limits of quantification of 0.015-0.020 mg kg-1 (RSD≤13%). The non-carcinogenic risks were assessed by calculating Hazard Quotients for adults and children. The results demonstrated that all mean and 95th percentile HQ values were substantially below the safety threshold of 1.0, indicating negligible non-carcinogenic health risks. Chlorpyrifos produced the highest HQ values among the investigated pesticides, whereas profenofos contributed the lowest dietary risk. Although children consistently exhibited higher HQ values than adults because of lower body weight and greater food intake relative to body mass, all estimated risks remained within acceptable safety limits. The acquired result represented current pesticide residue levels are unlikely to pose significant health risks. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring, implementation of integrated pest management strategies and periodic probabilistic risk assessments are recommended to ensure long-term consumer safety.