Studies on Analysis of Pesticide Residue in Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

The use of pesticides is one of the essential measures of modern agricultural practices in newlineprotecting the crops from different pests. On the other hand the residue resulting from misuse of newlinepesticides on fruits and vegetables is major concern in many countries as well as in India. newlineHowever, the hazard to health can be minimized to a great extent if these residues are kept below newlinetheir prescribed safe level (maximum residue limit). newlineThe first part of the study embodies the application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry newline(GC-MS) and capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and the newlinedevelopment of the methodology for analysis of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables newlinecollected from the local market. Samples of fruits and vegetables were extracted by using a) newlineethyl acetate and cleaned up with Florisil and activated charcoal column, b) 1% acetic acid newlinesolution of acetonitrile cleanup done by primary secondary amine and magnesium sulphate. newlineSamples of vegetables collected during the period January to December-2010 were found 62.5% newlinecontaminated with chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and monocrotophos. Residue detected was above newlineMRL (as per PFA/Codex/FAO/WHO) in some of the samples of vegetables collected from the newlinelocal market. A total 10 samples of each apple and grape fruits collected during the period newlineAugust 2012 and March 2013 for the detection chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, monocrotophos and newlineendosulfan, it was found that each sample of fruits was contaminated with one or more pesticide. newlineThere were 36 samples of apple, grape and guava fruits were collected from July 2012 to April newline2013 from the local market and analysed for the detection of chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and newlinemonocrotophos it was found that 75% of fruits contaminated with one or more pesticide as newlinementioned above. Residue was detected below MRL in the most of the fruits samples. Samples newlineof the fruits and vegetables were analysed by GC-ECD and/or GC-MS. newlineIn order to assess analytical techniques, comparative solvent extraction methods, per