Monitoring of carbamate and synthetic pyrethroids pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits in Eastern area of 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)were determined in vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, scald, cabbage, lettuce and squash) and fruits( grape, peach, apple and plume)colled from different markets at three citers (Derna, El- Beida and Al-Marj ) was determined in the eastern of Libya in different seasons( summer2012, autumn 2012, winter 2013 and spring 2013). 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 which in vegetable and fruit samples. Limit of detection in the range of 0.0033 to 0.0017 mg\kg-1 . The mean recovery ranged between 75-95% with relative standard deviations ranged between 15%-25 RSD%. Results indicated the pesticide residues were found in some monitored fruits and vegetable samples from all the selected markets from eastern area of libya. 93.71% of the samples analyzed of fruit and vegetable not contained detectable level of the monitored pesticides, 2.81% of the samples gave results with levels of pesticide residues above the MRL (maximum residue limits), while 4.11% of the samples gave values below the MRL. Carbofuran and oxamyl appear to have health risk associated with them while rests 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. On the basis of our results programs monitoring of pesticide residues in all food commodities in order to protect the end user for the indiscriminate pesticides. 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