Organochlorine pesticides in therapeutic teas and human health risk assessment

This study evaluated commercially available therapeutic teas for their organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) residue levels to estimate the potential health risks associated with their prolonged consumption. Tea samples that were produced for therapeutic uses were obtained commercially. Organochlorine pesticide residues were extracted from the samples using the modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method and analysed using Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD). Results showed that the tea samples contained a large number of OCPs residue at levels that were significantly higher than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the European Union (p > 0.05). Aldrin was detected in all samples, methoxychlor, and p,p’-DDT were detected in ≥88% of the samples while γ–HCH, δ–HCH, endosulfan II, and endosulfan sulphate were detected in ≥69% of the samples. Health risk assessment indicated that the highest risk of cancer was associated with aldrin.

本研究针对市售药用茶的有机氯农药（organochlorine pesticides, OCPs）残留水平开展检测与评估，以估算长期饮用此类茶饮可能带来的潜在健康风险。本研究的实验样本均为市售药用茶产品。采用改良QuEChERS（Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe）方法对样本中的有机氯农药残留进行萃取，并通过电子捕获检测器气相色谱法（Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector, GC-ECD）完成分析。检测结果显示，受试茶样中多种有机氯农药残留水平显著高于欧盟设定的最大残留限量（maximum residue limits, MRLs）（p > 0.05）。所有受试样本中均检出艾氏剂（aldrin），≥88%的样本中检出甲氧滴滴涕（methoxychlor）与对,对'-滴滴涕（p,p’-DDT），≥69%的样本中检出γ-六氯环己烷（γ–HCH）、δ-六氯环己烷（δ–HCH）、硫丹II（endosulfan II）与硫丹硫酸盐（endosulfan sulphate）。健康风险评估结果表明，艾氏剂对应的癌症健康风险最高。