Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues in agricultural / horticultural commodities
Keywords:
Agricultural/horticultural commodities, pesticide, residues, risk assessmentAbstract
A study on monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues  in agricultural/horticultural commodities revealed that out of 33 samples detected with pesticides, 22 samples showed presence of multiple pesticides and most of these were not having label claim/approval for use in India by CIB&RC in that specific commodity. Chlorpyriphos was the most frequently detected insecticide followed by profenophos. None of the detected pesticides in commodities monitored during the study period resulted in an in take of >50 per cent of ARfD value which indicated that their consumption does not cause acute health risk. Among the different agricultural/horticultural  commodities like cardamom, cumin seed and curry leaf, the highest detected level of pesticides viz., lambda cyhalothrin and ethion in cardamom, profenophos in cumin seed and chlorpyriphos, profenophos and ethion in curry leaf exceeded 4 per cent of ADI value, which was considered as a margin indicating chronic health risk. Among the different pesticides studied, profenophos was present in levels of the ADI which represented a high level of chronic health risk to consumers. The results call for an investigation into the levels of pesticide residues in cardamom, cumin seed, curry leaf and for tighter regulation and regular monitoring by government and industry.
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