Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (710 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Pesticides or their breakdown products remaining in the environment following their normal use or accidental contamination.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Pesticide Residue; Residue, Pesticide; Residues, Pesticide.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Pesticides; Body Burden
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 13,887 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Pesticide Residues” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,752 of them (19.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 4,619 records.
Reviews account for 804 records (5.8%) and meta-analyses for 12. Randomized controlled trials number 6 (0.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 4,619 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,937 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,579 |
| 2020 onward | 2,752 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 804 | 5.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 12 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 6 | 0.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Pesticide Residues"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticide Residues in Organic and Conventional Agricultural Soils across Europe: Measured and Predicted Concentrations | 2024 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 52 | cc by PMID 38568876 · DOI · PMC11025110 |
| Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 47 | cc by PMID 36432173 · DOI · PMC9695969 |
| Pesticide-Residue Analysis in Soils by the QuEChERS Method: A Review | 2022 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 42 | cc by PMID 35807567 · DOI · PMC9268078 |
| Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 21 | cc by PMID 41606316 · DOI · PMC12965876 |
Pesticide Residues in Organic and Conventional Agricultural Soils across Europe: Measured and Predicted Concentrations [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- During the growing season of 2021, 201 soil samples from conventionally and organically managed fields from 10 European countries and 8 cropping systems were taken, and 192 residues of synthetic pesticides were analyzed.
- Closing excerpt
- The results of this study show that most European agricultural soils contain mixtures of pesticide residues and that current calculation methods may not reliably estimate their presence.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (206 words)
During the growing season of 2021, 201 soil samples from conventionally and organically managed fields from 10 European countries and 8 cropping systems were taken, and 192 residues of synthetic pesticides were analyzed. Pesticide residues were found in 97% of the samples, and 88% of the samples contained mixtures of at least 2 substances. A maximum of 21 substances were found in conventionally managed fields, and a maximum of 12 were found in organically managed fields. The number and concentration of pesticide residues varied significantly between conventional and organic fields in 70 and 50% of the case study sites, respectively. Application records were available for a selected number of fields (n = 82), and these records were compared to the detected substances. Residues from 52% of the applied pesticides were detected in the soils. Only 21% of the pesticide residues detected in the soil samples were applied during the 2021 growing season. From the application data, predicted environmental concentrations of residues in soil were calculated and compared to the measured concentrations. These estimates turned out not to be accurate. The results of this study show that most European agricultural soils contain mixtures of pesticide residues and that current calculation methods may not reliably estimate their presence.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38568876 · DOI · PMC11025110
Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The use of pesticides leads to an increase in agricultural production but also causes harmful effects on human health when excessively used.
- Closing excerpt
- Therefore, it is necessary for food safety and security to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in markets.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (207 words)
The use of pesticides leads to an increase in agricultural production but also causes harmful effects on human health when excessively used. For safe consumption, pesticide residues should be below the maximum residual limits (MRLs). In this study, the residual levels of pesticides in vegetables and fruits collected from farmers' markets in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt were investigated using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. A total number of 40 pesticides were detected in the tested vegetable and fruit samples. Insecticides were the highest group in detection frequency with 85% and 69% appearance in vegetables and fruits, respectively. Cucumber and apple samples were found to have the highest number of pesticide residues. The mean residue levels ranged from 7 to 951 µg kg-1 (in vegetable samples) and from 8 to 775 µg kg-1 (in fruit samples). It was found that 35 (40.7%) out of 86 pesticide residues detected in vegetables and 35 (38.9%) out of 90 pesticide residues detected in fruits exceeded MRLs. Results for lambda-cyhalothrin, fipronil, dimothoate, and omethoate in spinach, zucchini, kaki, and strawberry, respectively, can cause acute or chronic risks when consumed at 0.1 and 0.2 kg day-1. Therefore, it is necessary for food safety and security to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in markets.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36432173 · DOI · PMC9695969
Pesticide-Residue Analysis in Soils by the QuEChERS Method: A Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Pesticides are among the most important contaminants worldwide due to their wide use, persistence, and toxicity.
- Closing excerpt
- This review is aimed at providing a critical revision of the most relevant modifications of the QuEChERS method (including the extraction and clean-up steps of the method) for pesticide-residue analysis in soils.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (165 words)
Pesticides are among the most important contaminants worldwide due to their wide use, persistence, and toxicity. Their presence in soils is not only important from an environmental point of view, but also for food safety issues, since such residues can migrate from soils to food. However, soils are extremely complex matrices, which present a challenge to any analytical chemist, since the extraction of a wide range of compounds with diverse physicochemical properties, such as pesticides, at trace levels is not an easy task. In this context, the QuEChERS method (standing for quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) has become one of the most green and sustainable alternatives in this field due to its inherent advantages, such as fast sample preparation, the minimal use of hazardous reagents and solvents, simplicity, and low cost. This review is aimed at providing a critical revision of the most relevant modifications of the QuEChERS method (including the extraction and clean-up steps of the method) for pesticide-residue analysis in soils.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35807567 · DOI · PMC9268078
Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Pesticides are widely distributed in soils1-3, yet their effects on soil biodiversity remain poorly understood4-7.
- Closing excerpt
- Our findings highlight the need to integrate functional and taxonomic characteristics into future risk assessment methodology to safeguard soil biodiversity, a cornerstone of ecosystem functioning.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (132 words)
Pesticides are widely distributed in soils1-3, yet their effects on soil biodiversity remain poorly understood4-7. Here we examined the effects of 63 pesticides on soil archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes, arthropods and key functional gene groups across 373 sites spanning woodlands, grasslands and croplands in 26 European countries. Pesticide residues were detected in 70% of sites and emerged as the second strongest driver of soil biodiversity patterns after soil properties. Our analysis further revealed organism- and function-specific patterns, emphasizing complex and widespread non-target effects on soil biodiversity. Pesticides altered microbial functions, including phosphorus and nitrogen cycling, and suppressed beneficial taxa, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and bacterivore nematodes. Our findings highlight the need to integrate functional and taxonomic characteristics into future risk assessment methodology to safeguard soil biodiversity, a cornerstone of ecosystem functioning.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41606316 · DOI · PMC12965876
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Agriculture Development, Pesticide Application and Its Impact on the Environment [5]
- Research article Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects [6]
- Research article Pyrethroid pesticide residues in the global environment: An overview [7]
- Research article Potential toxic effects of glyphosate and its commercial formulations below regulatory limits [8]
- Research article Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses [9]
- Research article Pesticide residues in grapes, wine, and their processing products [10]
References
- Knuth D, Gai L, Silva V, Harkes P, Hofman J, Šudoma M, et al.. Pesticide Residues in Organic and Conventional Agricultural Soils across Europe: Measured and Predicted Concentrations. . 2024. PMID 38568876 · DOI · PMC11025110
- El-Sheikh EA, Ramadan MM, El-Sobki AE, Shalaby AA, McCoy MR, Hamed IA, et al.. Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks. . 2022. PMID 36432173 · DOI · PMC9695969
- González-Curbelo MÁ, Varela-Martínez DA, Riaño-Herrera DA. Pesticide-Residue Analysis in Soils by the QuEChERS Method: A Review. . 2022. PMID 35807567 · DOI · PMC9268078
- Köninger J, Labouyrie M, Ballabio C, Dulya O, Mikryukov V, Romero F, et al.. Pesticide residues alter taxonomic and functional biodiversity in soils. . 2026. PMID 41606316 · DOI · PMC12965876
- Tudi M, Daniel Ruan H, Wang L, Lyu J, Sadler R, Connell D, et al.. Agriculture Development, Pesticide Application and Its Impact on the Environment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021. PMID 33513796 · DOI · PMC7908628
- Kim KH, Kabir E, Jahan SA. Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects. Sci Total Environ. 2017. PMID 27614863 · DOI
- Tang W, Wang D, Wang J, Wu Z, Li L, Huang M, et al.. Pyrethroid pesticide residues in the global environment: An overview. Chemosphere. 2018. PMID 29145144 · DOI
- Mesnage R, Defarge N, Spiroux de Vendômois J, Séralini GE. Potential toxic effects of glyphosate and its commercial formulations below regulatory limits. Food Chem Toxicol. 2015. PMID 26282372 · DOI
- Barański M, Srednicka-Tober D, Volakakis N, Seal C, Sanderson R, Stewart GB, et al.. Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. Br J Nutr. 2014. PMID 24968103 · DOI · PMC4141693
- Cabras P, Angioni A. Pesticide residues in grapes, wine, and their processing products. J Agric Food Chem. 2000. PMID 10775335 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.