Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40700151›Full record

ArticleJournal of xenobiotics2025

Pesticide Surveillance in Fruits and Vegetables from Romanian Supply: A Data-Driven Approach.

Diana Ionela Popescu Stegarus, Ana-Maria Nasture, Violeta-Carolina Niculescu, Corina Mihaela Oprita Cioara, Nicoleta Anca Șuțan Ionescu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of xenobiotics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Diana Ionela Popescu StegarusNational Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies, ICSI Ramnicu Valcea, 4th Uzinei Street, 240050 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-3442-3760
Ana-Maria NastureNational Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies, ICSI Ramnicu Valcea, 4th Uzinei Street, 240050 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-0298-5774
Violeta-Carolina NiculescuNational Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies, ICSI Ramnicu Valcea, 4th Uzinei Street, 240050 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-0439-3265
Corina Mihaela Oprita CioaraDoctoral School of Applied Sciences, Ovidius University Constanta, 124 Mamaia Blvd, 1st University Alley, 900470 Constanta, Romania.
Nicoleta Anca Șuțan IonescuDepartment of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, Targu din Vale Str. No. 1, 110040 Pitesti, Romania.

Funding

European Union through the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research (Romania) Contract no.: 760005/2022, Code 2Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development-Romania Sectorial Plan-ADER 2026, Project ADER 6.3.7Ministry of Education and Scientific Research (Romania) NUCLEU Program-Financing Contract no. 20N/05.01.2023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The evolution of global agriculture encourages the extensive use of pesticides although significant concerns regarding their impact on human health and the environment must be considered. The present paper highlights the presence and concentrations of various pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables available on Romanian markets. A total of 74 pesticide compounds authorized for agricultural use were identified and quantified in 620 randomly selected samples spanning a wide range of horticultural products by employing the QuEChERS extraction method and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The most often detected pesticides comprised boscalid and azoxystrobin, present in 42% and 37% of apple and strawberry samples, respectively, with mean concentrations of 0.12 mg/kg and 0.09 mg/kg. In cucumbers and tomatoes, difenoconazole and acetamiprid were predominant, detected in 35% and 40% of samples, with average residue amounts of 0.08 mg/kg and 0.07 mg/kg, respectively. Statistical analysis, achieved with Python 3.13.2, the pandas library (alongside descriptive statistics), and ANOVA, revealed significant variations in residue levels based on the product type and geographic origin. Boscalid and azoxystrobin were commonly encountered in apples and strawberries while difenoconazole and acetamiprid predominated in cucumbers and tomatoes. Even though the majority of pesticide residues conformed to EU maximum residue limits (MRLs), about 6% of samples, generally from imported products, displayed some residue concentrations approaching critical thresholds, with the highest exceedance observed for chlorpyrifos and lambda-cyhalothrin at concentrations of up to 0.25 mg/kg. This research provides a comprehensive overview of pesticide residues prevalence in Romania's fresh product supply while, at the same time, supporting consumer awareness initiatives and evidencing the critical demand for continuous monitoring and strengthened regulatory frameworks for food safety.

Indexed as

chromatographyfruitspesticidesstatistical analysisvegetables

Identifiers

PMID40700151
PMCPMC12285958

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.