Pesticide Residues in Vegetable Samples from the Market of the Republic of Serbia during 2007

Abstract

Our study comprised the determination of the pesticide residue content in 145 vegetable samples from our market taken during 2007. The pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography with NPD, ECD and MS. The samples were tested for the content of 75 pesticides with LOD of 0.001 to 0.005 mg/kg which were lower than MRLs according to the EU standards. The most frequently detected pesticides in tomato samples were dithiocarbamate and cymoxanil. Ten cabbage samples contained the residues of dithiocarbamate, chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin. In one lettuce sample the deltamethrin was detected. Out of seven cucumber samples with detected pesticides, six had dithiocarbamate. The carrot samples were pesticide-free. Over 60% of spinach samples contained tebuconazole and miclobutanil. The potato samples analysis showed the residues of tebuconazole and miclobutanil. In 53 onion samples the most frequent were Sigma HCH, endosulfan, vinclozolin, lindan i chlorpyrifos. In the analysis of 43 pepper samples, 25 contsined the pesticide residues with the most frequent Sigma HCH, chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos.