Assessing Pesticide Exposure and Regulatory Challenges in Malaysia: A Review of Population Monitoring, Food Residue, and Environmental Contamination

Abstract

Pesticide applications do not always stay confined to their target. Human exposure to pesticides can lead to various health effects, such as cancer, reproductive toxicity, and neurodegenerative disorders. For that reason, stringent regulations govern pesticide registration and application before they enter the market. This objective of this article is to review studies conducted in Malaysia related to human biomonitoring and pesticide residue monitoring in the environment and food with the aim to explore the extent and pathway of pesticide exposure among the population, which indirectly allows us to examine the effectiveness of pesticide regulatory systems. Articles published from 2010 until 2024 from ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar were explored. In Malaysia, biomonitoring of pesticide is conducted sporadically by independent researchers and does not provide a comprehensive understanding of the population's exposure through various routes of exposures. Additionally, the effectiveness of environmental regulatory measures remains unclear because of lack of monitoring data available publicly for interpretation. Moreover, dietary exposure assessments of pesticide residues in food are conducted randomly in Malaysia. This approach contrasts with other countries where the Total Diet Studies comprehensively evaluate the entire population's exposure to pesticide residues through dietary pathways. In summary, there is a need for a more comprehensive and systematic study of Malaysia's pesticide regulatory system specifically through biological, environmental, and food monitoring. Understanding the effectiveness of current regulations in controlling pesticide exposure is vital not only for public health but also for overall environmental well-being of the nation.

Keywords

pesticide exposure - pesticide regulations - biomonitoring - residues - pesticide exposure

Compliance with Ethical Principles

No ethical approval is required for review-type article.

Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed to collecting the data, writing the article, reviewing, and approving the final article.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
27. Dezember 2024

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