A Scientific Article in Science of the Total Environment Warns About Pesticide Residues in Potatoes

The laboratory has just published a new scientific study in the journal Science of the Total Environment on the impact of pesticide residues resulting from the cultivation and storage of potatoes. Conducted using a murine model and based on integrated multi-omics approaches, this research highlights the potential biological effects of chronic dietary exposure to mixtures of commonly used plant protection products.

Abstract

Potatoes are among the most widely consumed staple foods worldwide, but their cultivation and storage frequently involve multiple phytopharmaceutical products (PPPs), raising concerns about the health risks of dietary pesticide residues.

The health effects of multi-residue PPPs used in potato cultivation were assessed in an in vivo murine model, involving 36 mice, and evaluated through omics analyses. Two field cultivation methods (conventional and organic) and two post-harvest storage conditions (using 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene and mint essential oil as sprout inhibitor treatments) were considered. Potato tubers were processed into flour and administered to the animals at a moderate daily dose for 20 consecutive days.

Nutrigenomic analyses revealed significant gene deregulations, with 70 genes affected in the liver, 56 in the jejunum, and 52 in the brain, suggesting disturbances in cellular proliferation, nervous system functions, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, reproductive health, and immune

responses. Metagenomic analyses indicated microbiota imbalances, including a shift in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and changes in 2 bacterial genera with potentially adverse effects.

The main residues suspected of producing these effects include propamocarb, carfentrazone, 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, copper derivatives, and peppermint essential oil. These findings highlight the importance of large-scale omics approaches in uncovering potential biological disruptions, underscore the health risks associated with chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues, particularly in mixtures, and emphasize the need to reassess regulatory standards to promote agricultural practices that minimize pesticide residues to better protect the environment and human health.

Lien vers l’article : ww.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv

Assessment of health effects of potato crop phytopharmaceuticals and

storage products in a murine model