and Integrated Pest Management - part - usaid

316 P-SII1)I.IANAGI.M1 NI"AN IPM IN SOUT"1IIASTl, ASIA
PESTICIDE RESII)UES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
The preliminary surveys carried out by the Department of Agriculture from
1972 to 1981 on more than 2000 samples of agricultural products revealed that a
relatively large number of samples were contaminaled with residues of the
organochlorines. The more extensive studics from 1982 to 1985 (Table 3)
showed that besides organochh!orine, organophosphate and cal)amate were also
found to l present in the collectcd samples. In this study, [he organochlorine
residCues were mainly BI IC, heplallor and its epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin,
DDT, and uelaholites. The organoplhosphate residues were Dimethoate, methyl
parathion, parallion, nctliam idophos, mevirphos, monocrotophos, diazinon and
dichlorvos. The carbamate residues were mainly Methomyl and carbofuran.
Fungicide residues were Caplan, benomyl, and mancozeb. Miticide residues was
Diclol.
PEISTICID)E RESII)UES IN IIUMANS
Pesticides can be introduced directly or indirectly into the human body by
eXposure to or consunIti Ol Of food containing residues. The persistent
)C'sticides accumtulate in the human body through food chains and Find their way
into fat dcposiIs in tie liver, and to the kidney, brain, blood, and breast milk.
During 1980-1983, about 392 samples of blood (DOA 1980, 1983) were drawn
trom 112 fairners and 2810 o her people of unidentified professions and analyzed
for pesticide residues. Residues of organochlorincs - mainly DDT, heptachlior
and its epoxide, and dieldrin - at ppb levels were discovered in about 20% cf the
blood samples, with average levels substantially higher in the farmers' group.
Pesticide 1:siducs in breast milk were first reported in 1951 by Laug et al.
195 I), who found DDT in 30 of their 32 samples. Since 1951 and particularly
si uce the introduction of multi residue screening by gas chromatography, various
sltudies have reported on levels of organochlorine pesticides in breast milk
throtighout ite world.
Table 3. Pesticide residue analyses on agricultural products during 1982-1985.
Type of sample No. of samples Component
analyzed
Vegetables 66 Cabbage, cauliflower. Chinese kale,
string bean, green mustard,
sweet corn.
Fruits 85 Grape, rose-apple, jujube,
rambutan, orange, watermelon,
strawberry.
Grains 606 Rice, mung bean, maize
Oil crops 225 Soy bean, sesame
Field crops 253 Cassava, sorghum
Meat 90
E,,z 112