Pesticide application has increased globally with increasing demand for food, and modernized Agriculture as a result of an explosion in the world’s population growth, especially in developing nations in Africa, Asia, and South America. However, pesticides have helped to improve productivity, protect the nutritive integrity of food crops, and ensure year-round food supplies worldwide. The production and consumption of pesticides persisted from one decade to another until the ecosystem started to suffer from its adverse effects on the environment and human health. Previous investigations revealed that pesticides found entry into the human food chain. In response to these problems, researchers all over the world have conducted several kinds of research on pesticide applications, and their residual contamination in food. This review crosses from the past to present researches on the usage of pesticides, their accumulation in food, and possible methods of their reduction as highlighted by researchers over many years. There is a need for continuous monitoring of pesticide residue profile in soil, crop produce, and animal products in developing countries so that it will not exceed maximum residue limits (MRLs).

This study assesses heavy metal levels in water, soil, and vegetables (swiss chard, lettuce, cabbage, collard green, tomato, green pepper and carrot) irrigated with waste water in Gamo, Ethiopia. The samples of soils, water, and vegetables were randomly collected, processed, and analyzed for heavy metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results obtained show that the irrigational water is profoundly contaminated with heavy metals Cd, Cr and Ni and Pb, Zn and Cu had the lowest concentration in irrigation water. The levels of Cd in Kulfo river area and Chamo Lake area and Ni in most of the farm soils were also found to be higher than the guideline values. The study also revealed that the mean levels of Cd in most vegetables and Cr and Pb in some vegetables were higher than the maximum recommended limits set by WHO/FAO. In general the results show that the highest concentration of the heavy metals was obtained from Kulfo river area compared to the Arbaminch textile share company area, Abaya Lake area, and Chamo Lake area. Cabbage was maximally contaminated with potential toxic elements followed by Swiss-chard, carrot, tomato, collard green, green pepper and lettuce. Hence, from kulfo river area frequent consumption of cabbage and Swiss chard may cause serious health risks to consumers. The levels of many elements were found to vary with location, suggesting localized inputs of the various contaminants related to industrial and other activities that generate wastewater. This study recommends regular monitoring of heavy metals in soils, waters, and foodstuffs to prevent excessive accrual in food chain.

Increasing consumption of chicken products in Iran makes it very important to analyze their residual heavy metal contents; therefore, the present study has been conducted to determine Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu in commercial hen eggs, marketed in the city of Hamedan in 2016. In this descriptive study, a sum of 27 samples of hen eggs has been collected from the Hamedan City's market. After preparation and processing the samples in the laboratory, the concentration of metals has been determined in mixed albumen and yolk, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Also, all statistical analyses have been conducted, using the SPSS statistical package (version 20) with the results showing that the mean concentrations (mg/kg) of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu in the samples have been 0.29±0.16, 0.18±0.04, 0.31±0.03, and 2.81±1.56, respectively. Also, the mean contents of Cd and Cr have surpassed the maximum permissible levels (MPL), established by WHO/FAO. The computed health risk index values show that there is no potential risk for adults and children through egg consumption at the current rate in the study area.According to the results, considering the mean contents of Cd and Cr observed in egg samples have been higher than the MPL; therefore, it is recommended to pay serious attention to pollutants discharge in the environment and monitor chemical residue, especially heavy metals, in the foodstuff.