Determination of some Carbamat and Synthetic Pyrethroid Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits in Derna Market at Eastem Part of libya

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Protection Department Faculty of Agriculture Omar AL-Mukhtar University. Libya

Abstract

In this study, the residues
of commonly used carbamate and pyrethroids pesticides in Libya, (oxamyl,
bendiocarb, carbofuran, carbaryl, methomyl, thiocarb, permethrin, deltamethrin
, fenvalerate, esfenvalerate , and cypermethrin)  in vegetables (tomatoes,
cucumber, green pepper, scald, cabbage, lettuce and squash) and fruits (grape,
peach, apple and plume) were determined in different seasons (summer 2013,
autumn 2013, winter 2014 and spring 2014). HPLC with UV detector was used for
quantification, while the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe
(QUECERS) extraction and purification method was used to isolate the pesticides
found in samples. The mean recovery ranged between 75-95% with relative
standard deviations ranged between 15%-25%. Results indicated that pesticide
residues were found in some monitored fruits and vegetable samples. In all,
93.71% of fruit and vegetable samples analyzed contained no detectable level of
the monitored pesticides, 2.81% of the samples gave results with levels of pesticide
residues above the MRL, while 4.11% of the samples showed results below the
MRL. Carbofuran and oxamyl appear to have health risk associated with them
while rest of tested pesticides were found to be under safe limit. The results
suggested that the consumers of the eastern area of Libya are exposed to
concentration of pesticides that may cause chronic diseases correlated with
carbofuran and oxamyl. A future study in a longer period of time would allow
obtaining a deeper knowledge about the fulfillment of vegetables and fruits
produced in Libya with respect to the use of pesticides and their presence in
them

Keywords