Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (700 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The total amount of a chemical, metal or radioactive substance present at any time after absorption in the body of man or animal.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Body Burdens; Burden, Body; Burdens, Body.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Radiation Monitoring; Environmental Pollution
- Narrower topics
- Drug Residues; Pesticide Residues
- See also
- Drug Residues; Pesticide Residues; In Vivo Dosimetry
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 25,052 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Body Burden” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 3,613 of them (14.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 7,894 records.
Reviews account for 1,699 records (6.8%) and meta-analyses for 37. Randomized controlled trials number 80 (0.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 7,894 |
| 2000-2009 | 6,930 |
| 2010-2019 | 6,615 |
| 2020 onward | 3,613 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,699 | 6.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 37 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 80 | 0.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Body Burden"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The two faces of antibiotics: an overview of the effects of antibiotic residues in foodstuffs | 2024 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 68 | cc by PMID 38684585 · DOI · PMC11106094 |
| Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 47 | cc by PMID 36432173 · DOI · PMC9695969 |
| Impact of Pesticide Residues on the Gut-Microbiota-Blood-Brain Barrier Axis: A Narrative Review | 2023 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 29 | cc by PMID 37047120 · DOI · PMC10094680 |
| First Evidence of Pharmaceutical Residues in the Cerrón Grande Reservoir, El Salvador | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 41683432 · DOI · PMC12898499 |
The two faces of antibiotics: an overview of the effects of antibiotic residues in foodstuffs [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Antibiotics, which have been used for many years to treat infections, also play an important role in food contamination with antibiotic residues.
- Closing excerpt
- The aim of this review is to provide information on the undesirable effects of antibiotic residues in food-producing organisms and in the environment, their determination, and the precautions that can be taken.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (129 words)
Antibiotics, which have been used for many years to treat infections, also play an important role in food contamination with antibiotic residues. There is also unnecessary use of antibiotics, particularly to increase production efficiency. Non-compliance with withdrawal periods and maximum residue limits (MRLs) for antibiotics used in food-producing animals results in undesirable events, such as allergic reactions, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, changes in the microbiota and, in particular, antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it may be useful to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, to limit the use of antibiotics and to turn to alternatives that can be used instead of antibiotics. The aim of this review is to provide information on the undesirable effects of antibiotic residues in food-producing organisms and in the environment, their determination, and the precautions that can be taken.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 38684585 · DOI · PMC11106094
Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The use of pesticides leads to an increase in agricultural production but also causes harmful effects on human health when excessively used.
- Closing excerpt
- Therefore, it is necessary for food safety and security to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in markets.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (207 words)
The use of pesticides leads to an increase in agricultural production but also causes harmful effects on human health when excessively used. For safe consumption, pesticide residues should be below the maximum residual limits (MRLs). In this study, the residual levels of pesticides in vegetables and fruits collected from farmers' markets in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt were investigated using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. A total number of 40 pesticides were detected in the tested vegetable and fruit samples. Insecticides were the highest group in detection frequency with 85% and 69% appearance in vegetables and fruits, respectively. Cucumber and apple samples were found to have the highest number of pesticide residues. The mean residue levels ranged from 7 to 951 µg kg-1 (in vegetable samples) and from 8 to 775 µg kg-1 (in fruit samples). It was found that 35 (40.7%) out of 86 pesticide residues detected in vegetables and 35 (38.9%) out of 90 pesticide residues detected in fruits exceeded MRLs. Results for lambda-cyhalothrin, fipronil, dimothoate, and omethoate in spinach, zucchini, kaki, and strawberry, respectively, can cause acute or chronic risks when consumed at 0.1 and 0.2 kg day-1. Therefore, it is necessary for food safety and security to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in markets.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36432173 · DOI · PMC9695969
Impact of Pesticide Residues on the Gut-Microbiota-Blood-Brain Barrier Axis: A Narrative Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic exposure to a low level of pesticides found in diet affects the human gut-microbiota-blood-brain barrier (BBB) axis.
- Closing excerpt
- We then discuss the effects of chronic oral pesticide exposure on the gut-microbiota-BBB axis and raise awareness of the danger of chronic exposure, especially during the perinatal period (pregnant women and offspring).
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic exposure to a low level of pesticides found in diet affects the human gut-microbiota-blood-brain barrier (BBB) axis. This axis describes the physiological and bidirectional connection between the microbiota, the intestinal barrier (IB), and the BBB. Preclinical observations reported a gut microbial alteration induced by pesticides, also known as dysbiosis, a condition associated not only with gastrointestinal disorders but also with diseases affecting other distal organs, such as the BBB. However, the interplay between pesticides, microbiota, the IB, and the BBB is still not fully explored. In this review, we first consider the similarities/differences between these two physiological barriers and the different pathways that link the gut microbiota and the BBB to better understand the dialogue between bacteria and the brain. We then discuss the effects of chronic oral pesticide exposure on the gut-microbiota-BBB axis and raise awareness of the danger of chronic exposure, especially during the perinatal period (pregnant women and offspring).
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37047120 · DOI · PMC10094680
First Evidence of Pharmaceutical Residues in the Cerrón Grande Reservoir, El Salvador [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This study presents a comprehensive evaluation and environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pharmaceutical residues in the Cerrón Grande Reservoir, one of the most important surface water bodies in El Salvador.
- Closing excerpt
- To our knowledge, this represents the first in-depth study of pharmaceutical residues in Salvadoran surface waters, providing a foundational reference for future research and environmental policy in the region.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (207 words)
This study presents a comprehensive evaluation and environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pharmaceutical residues in the Cerrón Grande Reservoir, one of the most important surface water bodies in El Salvador. Sampling campaigns were conducted over a one-year period, covering both the dry (January 2024) and rainy (July 2024) seasons. A total of 76 pharmaceutical compounds were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), of which only five were not detected. During the dry season, the highest environmental concentrations were observed for mecamylamine (1710-6913 µg L-1), 1,7-dimethylxanthine (379-2829 µg L-1), chloroquine (2.29-362.7 µg L-1), and hydroxychloroquine (5.02-315.4 µg L-1). Concentrations generally decreased in the rainy season, with mecamylamine (1526-2198 µg L-1), 1,7-dimethylxanthine (0.018-0.55 µg L-1), and caffeine (0.2-0.474 µg L-1) remaining the most prevalent. Compounds exceeding 1 µg L-1 were assessed using predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) to calculate risk quotients (RQ). Chloroquine (RQ = 3346.3), mecamylamine (RQ = 1437.8), hydroxychloroquine (RQ = 1027.2), and manidipine (RQ = 271.0) posed the highest risks during the dry season, while only mecamylamine (RQ = 502.0) exceeded this threshold in the rainy season. To our knowledge, this represents the first in-depth study of pharmaceutical residues in Salvadoran surface waters, providing a foundational reference for future research and environmental policy in the region.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41683432 · DOI · PMC12898499
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Agriculture Development, Pesticide Application and Its Impact on the Environment [5]
- Research article Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects [6]
- Research article Pyrethroid pesticide residues in the global environment: An overview [7]
- Research article Contamination of vineyard soils with fungicides: a review of environmental and toxicological aspects [8]
- Research article Importance of antibiotic residues in animal food [9]
- Research article Potential toxic effects of glyphosate and its commercial formulations below regulatory limits [10]
References
- Bacanlı MG. The two faces of antibiotics: an overview of the effects of antibiotic residues in foodstuffs. . 2024. PMID 38684585 · DOI · PMC11106094
- El-Sheikh EA, Ramadan MM, El-Sobki AE, Shalaby AA, McCoy MR, Hamed IA, et al.. Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks. . 2022. PMID 36432173 · DOI · PMC9695969
- Abou Diwan M, Lahimer M, Bach V, Gosselet F, Khorsi-Cauet H, Candela P. Impact of Pesticide Residues on the Gut-Microbiota-Blood-Brain Barrier Axis: A Narrative Review. . 2023. PMID 37047120 · DOI · PMC10094680
- Romero-Alfano I, Martínez V, Peña N, Martínez K, Castro C, Velado M, et al.. First Evidence of Pharmaceutical Residues in the Cerrón Grande Reservoir, El Salvador. . 2026. PMID 41683432 · DOI · PMC12898499
- Tudi M, Daniel Ruan H, Wang L, Lyu J, Sadler R, Connell D, et al.. Agriculture Development, Pesticide Application and Its Impact on the Environment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021. PMID 33513796 · DOI · PMC7908628
- Kim KH, Kabir E, Jahan SA. Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects. Sci Total Environ. 2017. PMID 27614863 · DOI
- Tang W, Wang D, Wang J, Wu Z, Li L, Huang M, et al.. Pyrethroid pesticide residues in the global environment: An overview. Chemosphere. 2018. PMID 29145144 · DOI
- Komárek M, Čadková E, Chrastný V, Bordas F, Bollinger JC. Contamination of vineyard soils with fungicides: a review of environmental and toxicological aspects. Environ Int. 2010. PMID 19913914 · DOI
- Bacanlı M, Başaran N. Importance of antibiotic residues in animal food. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019. PMID 30710599 · DOI
- Mesnage R, Defarge N, Spiroux de Vendômois J, Séralini GE. Potential toxic effects of glyphosate and its commercial formulations below regulatory limits. Food Chem Toxicol. 2015. PMID 26282372 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.