Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables of Telangana State

Abstract

The present study deals with assessing pesticide residues of vegetables in Telangana State (Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy). A total of 60 vegetable samples of cauliflower, cabbage and brinjal were collected for pesticide residues analysis. The analysis of vegetable samples for different pesticide residues was carried out on gas chromatography and electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The pesticide residue levels (μg/gm) in cauliflower for endosulfan were in the range of ND- 1.66, quinalphos ND- 0.50 and methyl parathion ND- 0.40; in cabbage for chlorpyrifos ND- 0.10 and monocrotophos ND- 0.30; and in brinjal for methyl parathion ND- 2.00, cypermethrin ND- 0.56 and monocrotophos ND- 1.82. The results revealed that in cauliflower, three pesticide residues were found with endosulfan (30%), quinalphos (20%) and methyl parathion (50%); in cabbage two pesticide residues were detected with chlorpyrifos (30%) and monocrotophos (70%); and in brinjal three pesticide residues were detected with methyl parathion (45%), cypermethrin (25%) and monocrotophos (30%). The overall samples analysed indicated that all vegetable samples were found with pesticide residues with various percentages and exceed the maximum residual limit (MRL) values. The study highlights the need of the hour to control the use of excessive chemicals and shift towards organic agriculture.