Pesticides In Food

Question 1

MRL

Answer 1

Max residue limit
Maximum allowable amount of pesticide on food at the time of harvest
Set by the PMRA

Question 2

TDI

Answer 2

Total daily intake
TDI = MRL x Consumption

It’s a worst case scenario because it assumes all food has the max amount of residue on it

Question 3

PMRA

Answer 3

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Sector of health Canada

Question 4

ADI

Answer 4

Acceptable daily intake
mg of pesticide / kg bw / day
ADI = NOAEL / safety factor

Question 5

NOAEL

Answer 5

No Observable Adverse Effect Level
Give it to rats until they show side effects

Question 6

What’s the safety factor?

Answer 6

Divide NOAEL by 10 for interspecies variation (rat vs human) and 10 for intraspecies variation (variation between different people)

Question 7

Margin of safety

Answer 7

TDI / ADI
>1 = potential hazard
<1 = no hazard

Question 8

PMRA vs CFIA

Answer 8

PMRA sets the allowable amount of residue
CFIA makes sure those limits are being followed