In the present study, the chronic cumulative exposure to organophosphorus (OPs),
carbamates (CBs) and pyrethroid and pyrethrin (PPs) pesticides in the region of
Valencia through fruit and vegetables consumption is presented. A total of 752 samples
and 84 pesticides were studied of which, 52 were OPs, 23 CBs and 9 PPs. Residue data
were derived from the Valencia Region monitoring program 2007-2011 and food
consumption levels from a questionnaire-based dietary survey conducted in 2010 in the
same area. The relative potency factor (RPFs) approach was used to estimate chronic
cumulative dietary exposure to OPs, CBs and PPs using acephate, oxamyl and
deltamethrin as index compounds, respectively. The exposure was estimated using a
deterministic approach and two scenarios were assumed for left-censored results: the
lower-bound (LB) scenario, in which unquantified results (below the limit of
quantification (LOQ)) were set to zero and the upper-bound (UB) scenario, in which
unquantified results were set to the LOQ. Results demonstrate that the chronic exposure of the young (