Pesticide residues in vegetables in four regions of Jilin Province

Abstract

A study of pesticide residues was investigated in vegetable samples to highlight the trend of drugs obtained from the Jilin Province, China. Total of 230 samples obtained from four regions over the period 2016–2017 were screened for 18 pesticides that were analyzed using gas chromatography with electron capture (GC-ECD). The results showed that 45 samples (19.6%) were positive including 17 samples (7.39%) exceeded the national maximum residue limit (MRL). Pesticides positive samples were detected in 32 leafy vegetables, 14 of which exceeded the MRLs (6.07%). There are 12 samples detected in celery that its detection rate was 5.22%, five of which exceeded the MRLs at the same time. In contrast, no pesticide residues were detected in beans or cauliflower. In the four types of pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides had the highest detection rate, which was 12.6% (29 samples). On the other hand, detectable residues of organochlorine pesticides were found, but it did not exceed the standard. Regional variations in pesticide occurrence were observed: fifteen, seven, and ten samples were positive from Ji’an, Siping City, and Tonghua City, respectively, six samples from the last city exceeded MRLs. There were 30 samples tested for pesticides at the farmers’ market and its detection rate was 13.04%, while only 15 samples contain pesticides that the samples (6.5%) purchased in the supermarket. The results indicated that high levels of the occurrence of pesticide residues in vegetables was an important source of exposure to pesticides. Therefore, we should pay attention to the consumers and their impact of pesticide residues on food and human health should be considered.

Keywords

• pesticide residues
• vegetables
• gc-ecd
• mrl
• food safety