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Abstract

Samples of three selected summer and winter vegetables viz, cucumber, okra and cauliflower were collected from field and analysed for pesticide residues. Extraction of samples was done using QuEChERS method and was analysed using gas chromatography using GC-ECD and GC-FTD detectors for the presence of organochlorine, organophosphates and syntheticpyrethroids. Among the three vegetables analyzed, cauliflower was found to be most contaminated (47.5%) followed by okra (40.0%) and cucumber (22.5%)with low but measurable amounts of residues. Organochlorines were not detected in any of the samples. For risk assessment under Indian conditions, theoretical maximum residue contribution (TMRC) was determined for both urban and rural respondents and a comparison with maximum permissible intake (MPI) for Indian women with standard body weight of 55 Kg was done. The TMRC obtained for all the income groups in rural and urban respondents was significantly lower than MPI.

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