Pesticides in vegetables from Akkar Valley, Lebanon, and associated risk

Pesticide residues in greenhouse vegetables and strawberries from Akkar Valley, Lebanon, were evaluated after analysing 26 samples across two seasons. All samples contained residues, with 34 active substances identified and only 10 common in both seasons. While the number of compounds per sample did not differ notably between seasons, the wet season showed significantly higher total residue levels and EU maximum residue limit (MRL) exceedances, some exceeding MRLs by almost 50-fold. Eight compounds were banned and 3 were not registered in Lebanon. Hazard indices remained below the safety threshold for both adults and children under chronic and acute exposure, including a mixed-salad scenario, the highest value being 0.63. All four exposure scenarios were nonetheless significantly higher in the wet season. The findings highlight increased residue levels and dietary exposure in the wet season, underscoring the need for season-aware, risk-based monitoring.