Multiple pesticide residues; in spinach and associated health risk

ABSTRACT

In past, no work has been done regarding the pesticide residues in spinach targeting peri-urban area of district Faisalabad. Keeping in view the persistent nature and cumulative behavior as well potential toxic effects of pesticides as a result of consumption of vegetable this is planned. Food safety is a major public concern worldwide. This is serious problem in the whole world especially in economically poor countries like Pakistan. The production of safe food is an important aspect of food quality assurance as well as human health. The people are demanding fresh, hygienic and quality food. To study the level of pesticide residues in spinach grown in peri-urban area of district Faisalabad and compare the level of contaminants respective their maximum residues limits [MRLS]. Ten farmers were selected randomly for spinach in the peri-urban area of district Faisalabad and vegetable samples were collected at optimum maturity in triplicate and transported to the laboratory of National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad for further processing. The residues of pesticide were determined by GC-ECD. The results regarding pesticide residues in different spinach samples showed variations and residues varied as deltamethrin 0.024 to 0.143 mg Kg[-1], permethrin 0.159 to 0.573 mg Kg[-1], cypermethrin 0.098 to 0.503 mg Kg[-1], profenofos 0.016 to 0.425 mg Kg[-1], chlorpyrifos 0.009 to 0.212 mg Kg[-1], bifenthrin 0.012 to 0.623 mg Kg[-1], endosulfan 0.043 to 0.103 mg Kg[-1], dimethoate 0.077 to 0.515 mg Kg[-1], respectively. The chlorpyriphos has no residues in any sample of spinach. The spinach samples are found to be contaminated with a number of different pesticides and these pesticides are not applied judiciously according to good agricultural practices and recommended doses. The farmers are unaware of pesticide use and other agricultural practices due to lack of extension as result causes of serious problems to all community