Assessment of environmental risk posed by pesticide residues in soil and vegetable in Eakao area, Central Highlands of Vietnam

Pesticide residues in the crop, water, and soil can affect biological diversity and human health due to their toxicity, or they could break down and form other metabolites. In this study, soil and cabbage samples were collected at ten locations in the agricultural areas of Dak Lak province, Vietnam. From each soil and cabbage sample, ten carbamates and thirty-eight organophosphorus compounds were extracted using the QuEChERS method, cleaned up with C18 powder, and then analyzed by the LC-MS system. The study focused on the pesticides found in both matrices. Four compounds—aldicarb, propoxur, parathion, and terbufos—were detected in the samples, present in both cabbage and soil specimens. These results were utilized to compute an Environmental Impact Factor, indicating an environmental risk (average field EIQ = 177.2 > 150 threshold). Moreover, the pesticide residue in cabbage was employed to assess human health risks by calculating the Health Hazard Index (HHI), which showed significant long-term risks (HHI > 1) associated with aldicarb (1.8), parathion (1.2), and terbufos (2.4). Ten carbamate and thirty-eight organophosphorus pesticide residues were extracted from both soil and cabbage samples using the QuEChERS technique, followed by a clean-up step with C18 powder prior to LC-MS analysis. The research emphasized pesticides simultaneously present in both matrices. Among the compounds detected, aldicarb, propoxur, parathion, and terbufos were found in both the soil and cabbage samples. These findings were then applied to calculate an Environmental Impact Factor (field EIQ), which exceeded the risk threshold (average EIQ = 177.2 > 150), indicating notable environmental concern. Additionally, pesticide residues identified in cabbage were used to estimate human health risk via the Health Hazard Index (HHI), revealing substantial long-term risks with aldicarb (1.8), parathion (1.2), and terbufos (2.4), all exceeding the safety benchmark (HHI > 1).