Methods for Assessing the Environmental Impacts of the Steel Industry within the DPSIR Framework

Mehdi Mohammadi-Moghadam ¹ ( Crop and Horticultural Sciences Research Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Semnan Province (Shahrood), AREEO, Shahrood, Iran )
Anna Abdolshahi ² ( Department of Food Sciences and Industry, School of Nutrition, Food Sciences, Management and Medical Information, Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Semnan, Iran )
Saeed Mehrjou ³ ( Economic, Social and Extension Research Department, Gilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran )
Alireza Barjasteh ⁴ ( Department of Plant Protection, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Semnan Province (Shahrood), AREEO, Shahrood, Iran )
Mehdi Basirat ⁵ ( Pistachio Research Center, Horticultural Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rafsanjan, Iran )
Masoumeh Haghdel ⁶ ( Pistachio Research Center, Horticultural Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rafsanjan, Iran )

Submited date : 2025-08-27 Accepted date : 2025-09-09

Keywords: Pistachio, Damghan, Pesticides, GC–MS, Aflatoxin, HPLC,

Abstract :

This study was conducted to evaluate the type and concentration of pesticide residues in pistachio samples collected from orchards in Damghan County, the main pistachio-producing area of Semnan Province, Iran. Pistachio samples were obtained from processing terminals located in four major pistachio-growing regions of Damghan. The type and level of pesticide residues were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In addition, to assess possible contamination with aflatoxins, the samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results revealed the presence of residues of 11 pesticides in the analyzed pistachio samples. Among the detected pesticides, the concentrations of acetamiprid (0.1359 mg/kg; MRL = 0.05 mg/kg) and imidacloprid (0.3448 mg/kg; MRL = 0.07 mg/kg) exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union. Overall, 9 samples (17.3%) contained pesticide residues above the MRLs, while the remaining samples were below the permissible levels. Furthermore, aflatoxin analysis showed that 9 out of 52 tested samples were contaminated with aflatoxins, among which 8 samples were below and 1 sample exceeded the permissible limit.

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