To investigate the current usage status of neonicotinoid pesticides in cold vegetable cultivation in Ningxia Region, and evaluate their residue levels and safety in vegetable samples.
Through investigation and understanding of the active ingredients, formulations and control targets of neonicotinoid pesticides, the current application status in cold vegetable cultivation was grasped. Vegetable samples were collected to detect neonicotinoid pesticide residues, and the detection rates, over-limit rates and distribution characteristics were analyzed.Combined with residents’ dietary intake, health risks were evaluated using the index of food safety method and the hazard risk coefficient model.
The investigation identified that the main active ingredients of the local used drugs from 2023 to 2025 were 5 kinds of single or mixed agents: imidacloprid, acetamiprid, dinotefuran, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. The detection results were highly consistent with the active ingredients of neonicotinoid pesticides actually in use. The detection of 5516 cold vegetable samples revealed an overall detection rate of 21.68% for neonicotinoid pesticides, with an over-standard rate of 0.13%. Thiamethoxam and acetamiprid exhibited relatively high detection rates. Detection rates varied among different of vegetables. The detection rate of solanaceous vegetables(32.15%) was the highest, followed by perennial and legume vegetables. The detection rates of sprout vegetables, edible fungi and onion garlic were relatively low. From 2023 to 2025, the detection rate and over-standard rate of neonicotinoid pesticides in Ningxia’s cold vegetables continued to decline. The detection rate in Yinchuan and Guyuan was higher than in the other 3 cities, and these rates were significantly higher in summer and autumn compared to spring and winter. The safety index of all detected neonicotinoid pesticides was less than 1, and the risk coefficient was less than 1.5, indicating a low risk to consumer health and acceptability.
The overall risk of nicotinoid pesticide residues in cold vegetables in Ningxia is relatively low. However, the detection rates of certain vegetables (such as solanaceous vegetables) and specific pesticides (such as thiamethoxam) are relatively high. Consequently, it remains essential to enhance guidance for farmers on the safe use of pesticides , thereby further mitigating the risk of pesticide residues.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |