Detection of tolclofos-methyl and its decomposition product (2,6- dichloro-p-cresol) in phenolic-smelling tomatoes

Abstract

We investigated the cause of a phenolic smell in tomatoes. But this time prothiofos and 2,4-dichlorophenol were not detected in the tomatoes. When we analyzed pesticide residues in soil of the tomato field, we detected tolclofos-methyl in the range of 0.02~2.2μg/g and 2,6-dichloro-p-cresol, a decomposition product of tolclofos-methyl, in the range of 0.03~0.15 μg/g. We also detected tolclofos-methyl and 2,6-dichloro-p-cresol, each in the range of 0.01 ~0.02 μg/g, in the tomatoes. 2,6-Dichloro-p-cresol has a phenolic smell. We concluded that 2,6-dichloro-p-cresol accounted for the phenolic smell, at least in part.