Monitoring of pesticide residues in Egyptian fruits and vegetables during 1997

Abstract

A total of 2318 domestic samples of different types of fruits and vegetables were collected from eight Egyptian local markets in six different regions of the country. All samples were examined for residues of 54 pesticides, including organophosphorus, organonitrogen, organohalogen and certain pyrethroides. However, dithiocarbamates were analysed in only 318 samples. Overall, 81.5% of the samples had no detectable pesticide residues. Of the contaminated samples, 18.5% contained detectable residues and 1.9% exceeded their maximum residue limits (MRLs). Root and leafy vegetables showed the lowest contamination rates (1.9 and 4.7%, respectively), slightly exceeding the MRLs in leafy vegetables. However, fruit samples showed a slightly higher proportion of contamination than vegetables (29 and 14.3%, respectively). Fruit also exhibited a higher level of violation than vegetables (2.3 and 1.9%, respectively). The contamination and violation rates were lower than the percentages recorded in previous years' monitoring studies. Dicofol and dimethoate were the most frequently occurring pesticide residues at 5.1 and 5.0%, respectively. Dimethoate showed higher violation levels (0.69%). However, dicofol showed a slight violation rate (0.09%) which indicates good agricultural practices for dicofol use. Dithiocarbamates residues were found in 21 of the 318 samples analysed, which when expressed as a percentage contamination was 6.6%, and only one sample exceeded the MRL.

Investigation on the Behavior of Pesticides in Atmosphere

“…They may have the potential to kill or control harmful organisms such as pests, but can also cause unwanted adverse effects on nontarget organisms (Russo et al, 2002), human health and the environment (Lacorte et al, 1993;Juhler, 1997;Hyotylainem et al, 1998;Dogheim et al, 2001;Lentza-Rizos et al, 2001;Zohair, 2001;Xu et al, 2005;He et al, 2009;Rudel et al, 2010). Among the different types of pesticides, the organophosphorous pesticides (OPs) are widely used in agriculture and their properties provide numerous benefits in terms of production and quality increase, but they simultaneously may cause sanitary problems due to the harmful effects on the human health.…”

Patterns of natural degradation of cypermethrin in tomato fruits, water and soil under the desert environment of Ogla Oasis Cyrenaica - Libya

“…Pesticides residues are associated with many health problems; it became more serious in case of fresh vegetables and fruits (Jergentz et al, 2005). Many efforts deed to reduce the residues of these insecticides in the food stuff through legislation of laws at locally or internationally levels (Dogheim et al, 2001). The levels of pesticide residues are monitored at the maximum residue limits (MRLs), which are established by each country (Torres et al, 1996;Zawiyah et al, 2007).…”

Nutritional Evaluation of Some Commercial Infant Formula Consumed in Misurata-Libya

“…As shown in the available reports. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Pesticides have hitherto been determined in baby food by the use of a wide range of techniques such as HPLC-MS/MS, 22 GC-MS, 23 GC-ECD, 24 GC-MS/MS. 25 The present paper deals with the nutritional evaluation of some common commercial infant formula sold in Libya by chemical analysis including determination of contamination with pesticide residues.…”