Risk assessment of pesticide residue levels in selected vegetable crops
2008
Varca, L. M., Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). National Crop Protection Center
Pesticide management survey showed that the use of pesticides is still an important component of crop protection of our vegetable farmers. Although farmers may use pesticides according to recommended dilution and rate, good agricultural practices may not be observed when total pesticide used per unit area of the farm, frequency of application and pre harvest interval are not considered. Pesticide residues were monitored in pechay, cabbage, eggplant, bitter gourd and string beans. The pesticides: chlorothalonil, fenvalerate, cypermethrin, chlopryrifos, fipronil and profenofos were detected in cabbage from the field as well as from the La Trinidad Trading Post. The residues were however below the CODEX maximum residue limits (MRL) set by FAO. The practice of dipping bitter gourd in pesticide solution as pre harvest practice known as salbot is not in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). Chlorpyrifos residues were detected at 1.0 ug/g in bitter gourd. This exceeds the MRL of chlorpyrifos:0.02 ug/g. This samples was collected following dipping the fruit in a solution of formulated product containing chlorpyrifos and BPMC. Residues of cypermethrin, deltamethrin, L-cyhalothrin and fenvalerate were below the CODEX MRLs. In eggplant, string beans and pechay collected in the fiedls as well as taken from markets, residues were below the CODEX MRLs. Dietary risk assessment is important in ensuring safe food for consumers. It can provide assurance that exposure to pesticide residues are within safe limits, provided detailed food consumption data and reliable pesticide residue data are available. Total dietary intake of crops containing pesticide residues obtained did not exceed the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of these pesticides. Consumption of these crops then will not be considered a health hazard. Although concerns have been expressed that adverse health effects may occur due to exposure to more than one pesticide in food, interactions may occur but any outcome can not be predicted reliably. The outcome may be enhanced, mitigated, or an additive toxicity. A safety factor of 100 applied to a no adverse effect level (NO AEL) for animal studies for the estimation of ADI should be a sufficient margin of safety to account for potential synergism.
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