Abstract:
Today, pesticides are widely used to kill pests and control weeds. Although pesticides are developed to control specific target pests, their environmental transport and persistence characteristics can lead to acute and chronic toxic effects on non-target organisms and create ecotoxicological risks at the ecosystem level. According to the literature, pesticide residues detected in food can exceed maximum residue limits, negatively impacting human health. Pesticide exposure has been associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including acute cholinergic toxicity, neurodegenerative diseases, certain malignancies, endocrine-disrupting effects, and reproductive toxicity. Fruits and vegetables play an important role in supporting immune function, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, and maintaining overall health due to their richness in vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidant compounds. However, despite their nutritional value, the presence of pesticide residues from different groups, such as organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids, in fruits and vegetables can pose a potential toxicological risk to consumers. Therefore, this study theoretically evaluates the effectiveness and industrial applicability of different solvents and washing applications reported in the literature for removing pesticide residues from the surface of fruits and vegetables. Emphasis is also placed on the interactions of factors such as the mechanism of action of the pesticide, the type and duration of washing applied, and its water solubility properties.
While traditional washing methods (e.g., rinsing with tap water) can remove some surface residues, they are often insufficient for removing systemic pesticides or pesticides adhering to waxy layers. Therefore, innovative washing approaches have come to the forefront in recent years. The main methods examined include chemical solutions (sodium hypochlorite, Tween 20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate), peracetic acid, acetic acid, sodium bicarbonate, potassium permanganate, malic acid, oxalic acid, sodium chloride, etc.), ultrasonic cleaning, ozonized water, electrolyzed water, ginger/lemon/garlic extracts, and apple cider vinegar-water mixtures. Most studies have shown that washing with non-toxic acidic solutions, ozonized water, and ultrasonic cleaning is more effective than washing with tap water alone. Washing systems integrated with activated carbon and/or polymers can offer advantages in terms of both water conservation and pesticide removal efficiency. Since home washing methods are limited in removing pesticide residues, performing this process with more advanced technologies is necessary to protect human health. Furthermore, because technologies that can be recommended to reduce pesticide residues from fruit and vegetable surfaces require investment, providing this service as an out-of-home service may be more reasonable. Studies in this area have shown that pesticide removal with the potential to be transferred to practical applications is possible. It is recommended that these studies, currently conducted on a laboratory scale, be scaled up to an industrial level, and that investments and systems be developed to facilitate widespread adoption.
