Results from the monitoring of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables marketed in Piedmont (Italy), 2000-2008.

The Regional Agency for Public Health in Piedmont (Italy) analyzed pesticide residue levels (more than 190 pesticides) from 2000 to 2008 in 4.078 fruit samples, 2.869 vegetable samples from conventional agriculture, and 428 fruit and vegetable samples (2004-2007) from organic agriculture. Residues above the maximum residue levels were found in 4% of the fruit samples, in 2% of the vegetable samples, and in 2% of samples from organic farming. The main purpose of the present work was to evaluate the opportunity to start specific procedures of risk management and prevention strategies along the production chain and the official control.