Pesticide Residues in Conventionally and Organically Grown Tomatoes in Espírito Santo (Brazil)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of acephate, carbaryl, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, fenpropathrin, methamidophos and permethrin in conventionally and organically grown tomatoes from Espírito Santo, Brazil, between May 2012 and April 2013. QuEChERS sample preparation was used and analysis was performed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. The method validation showed good linearity (R > 0.99), precision (RSD < 13%) and accuracy (89 - 123%), and the limits of quantification were below 0.01 mg kg -1 for all pesticides. The pesticides acephate, carbaryl (0.23 mg kg -1 ; exceeding maximum residue levels), carbendazim, chlorpyriphos, dichlorvos, fenpropathrin (0.41 mg kg -1 ; exceeding maximum residue levels), methamidophos and permethrin (0.51 mg kg -1 , exceeding maximum residue levels) were found in conventional tomatoes. In organic tomatoes, only one sample exhibited the presence of permethrin (0.21 mg kg -1 ). Considering that the pesticides found are toxic and carcinogenic, and given the high incidence of irregularities, it is important to implement government actions to ensure consumer safety. ]]>

Ecosystem Services from Ecological Agroforestry in Brazil: A Systematic Map of Scientific Evidence

“…The extensive implementation of industrial agriculture has been heavily impacting several ecological processes that sustain human well-being-ecosystem services (ES) [1,2]. The intensive application of pesticides and fertilizers and the genetic uniformity in these systems has led to pest resistance [3,4], biodiversity loss [5][6][7], soil degradation [8], greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [9] and contamination of food and water with agrochemicals [10,11]. These environmental and socioeconomic costs associated with increases in productivity of single commodities in industrial monocultures represent a prioritization of provisioning services at the expense of enduring losses in regulating services, such as pollination, carbon sequestration, biological control and soil conservation, posing a strong trade-off among ES [1,[12][13][14].…”

Segmentation of consumer preference for food safety label on vegetables

“…Their beneficial effects aside, they can also carry biological, chemical and technological agents such as Salmonella spp. ; pesticides and genetic modifications with harmful effects on human health (dos Santos et al , 2015; Gambacorta et al , 2005; Lopez-Velasco et al , 2013; Melo et al , 2012).…”