Evaluation of pesticide residues in wheat grains and its products from Algeria

The presence of pesticide residues in wheat grains and its products produced and imported in Algeria was determined using QuEchERS extraction method and multi-residue analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Among the 80 wheat samples analysed, detectable residues were found in 62.5% of samples. The most often pesticide found was pirimiphos methyl in 46 samples (57.5%). A percentage of 5% of samples contained pesticide residues above Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) due to benalaxyl, chlorpyrifos and metalaxyl residues. Risk assessment for long-term exposure was done for all pesticides detected in wheat grains, the risk of exposure of Algerian consumers to pirimiphos methyl residues through wheat consumption was potentially high (EDI = 78%ADI). This risk was less important in the case of chlorpyrifos (EDI<9% ADI). For the others residues, EDIs were less than 1.5% of ADIs.