3rd meeting of young researchers at UP 1 - IJUP - Universidade do ...

Pesticide residues in grapes for wine making
M. Ribeiro 1 , M. Azenha 1 , A. Aguiar 1
1 Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal.
Currently, according to the UN, world population tends to grow until the year 2050. In view of this, it is necessary
to increase world food production to meet the food needs of the entire population [1]. Since the current trend
towards lowering of usable agricultural land per capita, that water scarcity is increasing and the
reluctance to the use of GMOs, the current most effective means to achieve the desired yield is
the use of chemicals, including pesticides [2]. The massive use of agrochemicals such as pesticides, cause
serious contamination of groundwater and soil [3] and entering the food chain and eventually be ingested. This
does not mean that pesticides are less harmful or completely used, but implies greater control over the registration
and use [4] so there is the need to establish maximum residue limits (MRLs).
This work's main goal is to quantify pesticide residues in grapes left after an intensive strategy
(seven applications) with the same pesticide and to verify the concentration levels between
berries that are harvested one day and ten days after each application and the date of harvest.
Were also objectives of this study to check for pesticide degradation and accumulation.
Five parcels of vines, with about 1000 m 2 each, were used. In four plots were applied
pesticides and one was left to serve as a witness, which did not apply any pesticide in the
study. In each plot was assigned a different pesticide. The applications were repeated every
two weeks. To carry out laboratory analysis of samples, was used gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry (GC - MS). For the extraction of pesticides to be analyzed in gas chromatography
was used solid phase microextraction (SPME). Samples were collected from the fifth
application. Samples were taken one day after the application and about ten days later. Grapes
collected were on September 17 to quantify the residue left by pesticides before they make
wine and compare with the maximum residue limit recommended for each pesticide in
Portugal.
It was concluded that even after seven applications with the same pesticide MRLs are not
exceeded, there is degradation of pesticides when the storage of the samples exceeds the two
weeks that there is an accumulation of pesticide applications and there has been identified drift
of pesticides between plots.
References:
[1] UN (2001), World Population Prospect. The 2000 revision. Population Division, Department of
Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, New York.
[2] Carvalho, F. P. (2006). Agriculture, pesticides, food security and food safety. Environmental
Science & Policiy , 685-692.
[3] UNEP. (2005). Geo year Book 2004/5. An overview of our changing environment. Nairobi: United
Nations Environment programme.
[4] Harris, C. A. (2002). The regulation of Pesticides in Europe. J. Environ. Monit 4 , 28 - 31.
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