Control and intake of pesticide residues during 1981-1993 in Finland

The use of pesticides has been monitored on the basis of sales statistics since 1953 in Finland and the information has been used for targeting the official food control to products where pesticides are mostly used. Food consumption and the earlier control results were also taken into account. The intake of pesticides has been estimated based on the control analysis and statistical food consumption data, where also the ratio of imports was taken into account. The samples were taken by food control authorities and analysed separately. In spite of slight bias owing to sampling for control purposes, the results are representative of the products consumed. The intake estimation method has been classified in the group Estimated Daily Intake (EDI). The intakes of a total of the 53 most commonly found pesticides were estimated. The intakes of the evaluated pesticides were below 2% of ADIs. The average daily intake was 75 micrograms per person in 1992 mainly from imported products, only 24% initiating from domestic products. The intake of pesticides from domestic vegetables, fruits and berries has been evaluated three times during 1977-1993. The daily intake of pesticide residues from these products has decreased from 16.9 micrograms to 3.7 micrograms. The intensive food control has decreased offences against the regulations. The method used seems to be suitable for the longterm monitoring. The average intake of pesticides is at a low level compared with the Acceptable Daily Intakes, thus further estimations by more defined methods are not necessarily needed. The advantage of the method adopted is that residue data can also be used to make more accurate Measured Daily Intake estimates for risk groups such as children and vegetarians.