To understand the residue status of prohibited and restricted drugs in Pelodiscus sinensis, and assess the dietary exposure risk of these drugs ingested by Shanghai residents via Pelodiscus sinensis.

Using the sampling and testing data of prohibited and restricted drugs in commercially available Pelodiscus sinensis in Shanghai from 2020 to 2023, the point estimation method and margin of exposure(MOE) method were adopted to conduct exposure assessment on prohibited and restricted drugs in Pelodiscus sinensis.

The overall over-standard rate of prohibited and restricted drugs in 502 soft-shelled turtle samples was 2.79%. Among them: For 462 soft-shelled turtle samples, the detection rate of enrofloxacin (calculated as the sum of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) was 18.18%, the over-standard rate was 0.00%, the average content was 4.65 μg/kg, and the maximum value was 92.80 μg/kg. For 184 soft-shelled turtle samples, the detection rate of sulfonamides (total amount) was 7.07%, the over-standard rate was 1.09%, the average content was 12.28 μg/kg, and the maximum value was 1620.00 μg/kg. For 470 soft-shelled turtle samples, the over-standard rate of furazolidone metabolites was 1.70%, the average content was 0.56 μg/kg, and the maximum value was 95.80 μg/kg. For 168 soft-shelled turtle samples, the over-standard rate of ofloxacin was 1.79%, the average content was 0.94 μg/kg, and the maximum value was 105.00 μg/kg.For 135 soft-shelled turtle samples, the over-standard rate of norfloxacin was 0.74%, the average content was 0.11 μg/kg, and the maximum value was 15.00 μg/kg. Furaltadone metabolites, nitrofurantoin metabolites, nitrofurazone metabolites, chloramphenicol, and malachite green were not detected in Pelodiscus sinensis. The average exposure and P₉₅ exposure of enrofloxacin, sulfonamides (total amount), ofloxacin and norfloxacin ingested by Shanghai residents aged great than or equal to 3 years through Pelodiscus sinensis per day were all lower than the acceptable daily intake(ADI). The average MOE and P₉₅ MOE of furazolidone metabolites ingested by residents aged great than or equal to 3 years through Pelodiscus sinensis per day were both greater than 1×10⁴.

The health risks of prohibited and restricted drugs ingested by Shanghai residents via Pelodiscus sinensis are relatively low. There is an excessive phenomenon of sulfonamides, furazolidone metabolites, ofloxacin and norfloxacin in Pelodiscus sinensis, and targeted supervision still needs to be strengthened.