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Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to protect crops from pests. In addition to protection during cultivation, they are also used after harvesting to extend the shelf life of products. Postharvest control stands out, especially when it comes to products imported from distant countries, resulting in increased concentration of pesticides and risk to human health consuming such products. In this study, analyses of pesticide residues were performed on 200 samples of fruits and vegetables. Pesticide residues were identified and quantified in 30 out of 200 samples. Study results revealed imazalil to be the most frequently detected pesticide. Risk assessment was performed on the obtained results, and it was carried out separately for adults and for children under 6 years of age. Imazalil showed the highest ARfD percentage for adults (max% ARfD 251%), and these values were especially high on risk assessment for children, where they amounted up to max% ARfD 1087%. The study of imazalil impact was performed on 16 Swiss albino mice divided into two groups and 4 subgroups. Experimental group animals were treated with the corresponding NOAEL dose of imazalil (10 mg/kg) for 28 days. Body weight was measured before each pesticide application on a digital electronic Sartorius scale. Peripheral blood analysis was performed after 28-day animal exposure to pesticides. Animals were anesthetized, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, and red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined by standard hematological methods. The organs for determination of imazalil concentration were extracted immediately upon animal sacrifice and stored in a freezer at -80°C until analysis. Results show difference in gain weight, and an increase in WBC count was recorded in the experimental group as compared with a control group of animals. The highest imazalil levels were recorded in adipose tissue (45.2‰) which proves tendency to accumulate.

Thirty samples of widely used vitamins and herbal preparations distributed on the Croatian market were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry in order to estimate contamination with Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Cr, Ni and Zn due to their potential toxicity if present above the maximum allowable levels (MAL). The following concentration ranges were obtained (in g g-1): Pb 0.25-3.86 ; Cd 0.05-0.28 ; As 0.10-0.19 ; Hg 0.02-0.12 ; Cr 0.11-64.38 ; Ni 0.24-338.90 ; and Zn 1.00-95.3. Several analysed formulations had metal levels above the maximum allowable limits (Pb: one honey-based product and one medicinal herb-based product ; Cr: one product containing vitamins ; Ni: two products containing vitamins and one product of animal origin). Moreover, the estimated cumulative daily intakes of several metals from some dietary supplements were higher than the oral permitted daily exposures set by the USP Advisory Panel on metal impurities (Pb: one medicinal herb-based product ; Ni: one product containing minerals and one product of animal origin). Such formulations present a significant additional source of metals in the human diet, and therefore could be harmful for human health.