The concentration and human health risks attributed to pesticide residues in cucumber: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Prolonged consumption of vegetables containing pesticide residues can pose a risk to the health of individuals over time. Methods: This study aimed to retrieve the studies on the concentration of pesticides such as acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon in cucumber through a systematic review, and then, a meta-analysis focusing on specific subgroups. Finally, the hazard quotient (HQ) was used to assess the non-carcinogenic risk posed to consumers. Results: The sequence of pesticides according to pooled (mean) concentration was acetamiprid (140.91 mu g/kg) > diazinon (59.03 mu g/kg) > chlorpyrifos (40.49 mu g/kg). Also, the countries were sorted based on the pooled concentration of chlorpyrifos: Spain (180.00 mu g/kg) > Egypt (124.90 mu g/kg) > Kazakhstan (49.95 mu g/kg) > Greece (20.50 mu g/kg) > Saudi Arabia (20.00 mu g/kg) > Jordan (3.54 mu g/kg) > Iran (3.10 mu g/ kg). The order for diazinon and acetamiprid was Iran (43.20 mu g/kg) > Saudi Arabia (33.00 mu g/kg) > China (4.60 mu g/kg) and Turkey (231.70 mu g/kg) > Egypt (220 mu g/kg) > Pakistan (100.00 mu g/kg) > Kazakhstan (99.34 mu g/kg), respectively. Conclusion: The HQ of acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon was less than 1 for all countries; hence, the consumption of cucumbers containing these pesticides does not pose a non-carcinogenic risk.