Neonicotinoids in solanaceous vegetables from Ningbo, China, and dietary exposure risk

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely detected in vegetables, raising concerns regarding chronic dietary exposure. The present study quantified 7 neonicotinoids in 178 solanaceous vegetable samples (tomato, chilli pepper, eggplant, pimiento, and cherry tomato) collected from Ningbo, China, using HPLC-MS/MS. Cumulative exposure was evaluated by applying relative potency factors method, with imidacloprid as the reference compound. All target analytes were detected, with imidacloprid exhibiting the highest mean residue level of 18.8 µg/kg, with a detection frequency of 44.9%. Although individual hazard quotients remained predominantly below unity, the cumulative hazard index exceeded 1 across all vegetables and age groups, indicating a potential chronic risk from combined neonicotinoid exposure. Chilli pepper and cherry tomato were identified as priority commodities, while children of 6-8 years were the most susceptible age group. These results underscore the necessity of cumulative risk assessment and commodity-specific monitoring for neonicotinoid residues in evaluating dietary exposure risk.