Pesticide residues in eggplnt during dry and wet seasons in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan

Issue Date

12-2012

Abstract

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important and leading vegetable crop, and in terms of land area and volume of production in the Philippines. The study was conducted to determine pesticide residues in eggplant grown and harvested in Pangasinan. Sample collection of eggplants was done in 3 stages farm, harvest and market, and in two seasons; dry and wet seasons. Gas Chromatography was used to analyze the pesticide residues. The study showed that farms were sprayed with Prevathon® (100% chlorantraniliprole) followed by Malathion® (90% malathion), Magnum® (30% cypermethrin), and Brodan® (20% chlorpyrifos). The pesticides with the highest amount used in liters were Brodan® (chlorpyrifos) at 0.48 L and Magnum® (cypermethrin) at 0.33 L. The average spraying time was 1.79 (s.d. 0.52) h daˉ¹,3 (s.d. 0.28) wk moˉ¹,3 (s.d. 0.78) wk moˉ¹, about 4 (s.d. 1.30) mo yrˉ¹. Although Malathion® and Prevathon® were used by most of the farms, the liter years of pesticide exposure was low for both (1.82 and 0.60 respectively). On the other hand, Brodan® and Magnum®, although not prevalently used, had the highest liter years of pesticide exposure chlorpyrifos (8.4) and cypermethrin nd chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos had a reading of 0.03 ppm which exceeded the default maximum residue level at 0.01 ppm and harvest had a reading of 0.03 ppm which exceeded the default maximum residue level at 0.01 ppm and harvest samples were also found positive for pesticide residues of cypermethrin. During the dry season, certain harvest samples were positive for pesticides residue of cypermethrin at 0.03 ppm. Although there was a broad spectrum of pesticides mentioned by farmers for insect control in eggplants the they use, only cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos were found in the eggplant samples in this study. Many of the pesticides used by farmers do not remain in eggplants, but are adsorbed in the soil and water, or vaporized into the air. These pesticides remain as pollutants in the environment (soil, water and air) that may still impact the environment and the human health. Pesticide residues in vegetables, even in moderate concentration or below the established tolerances, can adversely affect human health in the long run.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

37

Issue

3

Page

93-98

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables

Language

English

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