The widespread use of pesticides protects crops and ensures food security, often resulting in yield increases of over 50%. However, the common practice of using pesticide mixes, combined with the diverse nature of our diets, frequently leads to the accumulation of multiple pesticide residues in food. The well-documented acute and chronic health effects associated with pesticide exposure, along with the potential for complex interactions that can heighten the toxic threat, raises significant concerns for regulators and consumers.
This whitepaper explores the effectiveness of current methods,
such as Hazard Index (HI) and Relative Potency Factors (RPF) in the evolving field of cumulative risk assessment (CRA) for pesticide residues in food. We consider how the lack of regulatory harmonisation creates challenges for consumers, as well as producers striving to comply with multiple regulatory frameworks in a global environment.
