Exhibition of the Ecuadorian population to pesticide residues in agricultural products of mass consumption

The use of pesticides in Ecuadorian agriculture constitutes a usual practice for the control of pests and diseases that affect crops. In Ecuador, there is a lack of updated and systematized information on pesticide waste levels in agricultural products for mass consumption, which generates uncertainty around food safety and health of agricultural workers. As a consequence, the inappropriate use and persistence of this waste in agricultural products can be harmful to consumers, contaminate soil and waters, and generate commercial obstacles with importing countries of Ecuadorian agricultural products. This project aims to evaluate the risk of dietary exposure of the Ecuadorian population to pesticide residues in mass consumption foods with potential pollution. In addition, it is sought to determine if the residual levels of pesticides comply with the maximum limits established by national and international regulations. As part of the project, it is proposed to analyze pesticide residues in mass consumption food and characterize the risk according to the intake of the population. For this, the degree of contamination with food waste of the food identified as mass consumption according to the National Health Survey (Ensenut) will be evaluated. These foods are white rice (cereal), potato (tuber), carrot (root), apple (fruit), kidney tomato and pepper (vegetables). The samples will be taken in food collection centers in the cities of Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil. Pesticide residues will be extracted following the multiressidos -crowns method and then identified and quantified by high -performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection in tandem mass with electrospray ionization. To evaluate the risk of dietary exposure, it is proposed to raise data of usual intake in the three main cities of the country through consumption surveys, information that has not been updated at the national level since 2012. In this way, the project is presented as an initiative of great relevance for Ecuador, since it intends to improve food safety, protect public health and promote more sustainable agricultural practices. The project results will serve for agricultural producers that sell their products locally, generating usefulness information to know the amounts of agrochemical waste in local mass consumption products. In turn, it is aspired to generate recommendations aimed at reducing population exposure to pesticide residues. This is how the main axes of this project will be food security and sustainable agriculture. The results of this project will contribute updated and high interest in the productive part and consumers.