Integrating DynamiCROP model and risk assessment for pesticide residues in spinach: Implications for food safety

Reliable prediction of pesticide residues in leafy vegetables is essential for dietary risk assessment and regulatory decision-making. This study aimed to crop-specifically parameterize the dynamiCROP model for spinach, a species not included in the default database, to predict pesticide residue dynamics and assess associated dietary risks.

Nine commonly used pesticides were applied under controlled field conditions, and their dissipation patterns were evaluated using both experimental measurements and model simulations. Spinach-specific parameters, including leaf area index and growth stages, were incorporated to improve predictive accuracy. The model showed strong performance, with R² values exceeding 0.8 and mean absolute error (MAE) values remaining below the corresponding maximum residue limits (MRLs). Risk assessments based on both measured and simulated data indicated that propamocarb exhibited the highest hazard quotient (HQ), although all pesticides showed HQ values below 10% 14 days after application.

The results demonstrate that dynamiCROP reliably predicts pesticide residue dynamics in spinach and supports dietary risk assessment. This study extends the applicability of the model to leafy vegetables, which are widely consumed globally, addressing a key gap in pesticide residue modeling and supporting science-based regulatory management. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.