Residue Monitoring
At the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) we evaluate if there are risks to human health if you are exposed to pesticides in food or water.
Food Residue Monitoring
We sample domestically grown and imported fresh produce at sites where produce is packed, sold, or distributed and we test them for pesticide residues. We enforce health protective tolerances set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).
A tolerance is a maximum residue level of a specific pesticide allowed on human or animal food. U.S. EPA establishes pesticide tolerances based on certain factors such as pesticide toxicity, quantity applied, frequency of application, and how much remains in or on the commodity.
We focus on the following high-risk commodities:
- Produce highly consumed by infants and children.
- Produce treated with pesticide listed under Proposition 65 as carcinogens or reproductive toxins.
- Produce that reflects the consumption patterns of various ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
- Produce with a history of detected illegal pesticide residues.
- Produce originating from countries with a history of detected illegal pesticide residues.
Annual Food Residue Reports
View annual food residue monitoring reports in the reports directory.
Drinking Water Assessments
We conduct rapid health assessments of pesticides detected in drinking water to determine human health exposure and risk from pesticide use in California.
If new pesticides are detected in groundwater from legal agricultural use, we initiate a public process outlined in the Pesticide Contamination Prevention Act. This process determines if agricultural use of the pesticide can be allowed and under what conditions.
For information on the drinking water assessments conducted by our scientists, visit our Look Up Pesticide Info page.
View our Groundwater Protection Program overview for more information on our groundwater protection programs.
Sign Up for Email Updates
Keep in the loop by subscribing to one or more of our email distribution lists.
Still have a Question or Need More Information?
Please contact us with questions or visit the Contact Us page on our website to connect with other programs at DPR.