[Survey of pesticide residues in imported frozen vegetables and fruits (1989.4~2008.3)].

A survey of pesticide residues in 595 imported frozen products on the Tokyo market from April 1989 to March 2008 was carried out. Forty three kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, pyrethroid and others, were detected between levels of trace (below 0.01 ppm) and 4.6 ppm from 162 samples. Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and omethoate were frequently detected in green vegetables (komatsuna leaf and spinach), cypermethrin and methamidophos were detected in pods and seeds (green soybean and string pea), chlorpropham (CIPC) was detected in potato, and captan and carbaryl were detected in berries (blueberry, raspberry and strawberry). The hydrophilic pesticide methamidophos was detected in flesh of lychee. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as between less than 0.5% and 30% of their ADI values according to the daily intake of frozen products. Therefore, these frozen products should be safe when they were eaten in customary amounts.

[Transfer of pesticide residues to crops via cardboard boxes].

Cardboard boxes used to transport crops are often reused in the distribution process, and therefore transfer of pesticides between crops might occur. So, we designed model experiments to investigate whether or not transfer of pesticide residues from crops to other crops via cardboard boxes occurs. Under severe experimental conditions, 6.2% of the pesticide residues of grapefruit was found to be transferred to spinach via cardboard boxes. In the case of the mandarin orange, 0.57% was transferred. The actual amount of transferred pesticides in the market may be less than that in these model experiments, but it is clear that transfer of pesticide residues to other crops via cardboard boxes can occur. Therefore more attention must be given to reuse of cardboard boxes in the distribution process.

[Survey of pesticide residues in imported fruit products (1994.4-2006.3)].

A survey of pesticide residues in 600 imported fruit products on the Tokyo market from April 1994 to March 2006 was carried out. Thirty kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, and pyrethroid, were detected between levels of Tr (below 0.01 ppm) to 0.37 ppm from 75 samples. Residual pesticides were detected from fruit products, dried fruits and pressed juice. A high frequency of pesticide residues was observed in peels, whole body of fruits and products which contained them. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as between less than 0.1 and 3.9% of their ADI values according to the daily intake of fruit products. Therefore, these fruit products should be safe when eaten in customary amounts.

[Survey of pesticide residues in imported vegetable products (1992.4-2006.3)].

Pesticide residues in 165 imported vegetable products on the Tokyo market from Apr. 1992 to Mar. 2006 were investigated. Seven kinds of pesticides were detected at levels between Tr (below 0.01 ppm) and 1.0 ppm from 16 samples. There was no sample in which pesticide residues exceeded the MRLs. The salt leaf of grape imported from Greece contained chlorpyrifos and quinalphos, and there was some doubt as to whether the residue levels exceeded the MRLs when the Japanese positive list system for pesticide residues in food was applied. Pesticides were detected from pickles and dehydrated vegetable, but not from products that had been treated with heat and water, such as boiled vegetables and purees. Many samples of products from Asia, and North America area contained detectable levels of pesticides. Residue levels of these pesticides were calculated as between 0.006 and 20.3% of their ADI values according to the daily intake of vegetable products. Therefore, these vegetable products should be safe when eaten in a normal manner.