Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Commonly Used Fruits and Vegetables in Kuwait

Abstract

The presence of pesticide residues in primary and derived agricultural products raises serious health concerns for consumers. The aim of this study was to assess the level of pesticide residues in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in Kuwait. A total of 150 samples of different fresh vegetables and fruits were analyzed for the presence of 34 pesticides using the quick easy cheap effective rugged and safe (QuEChERS) multi-residue extraction, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pesticide residues above the maximum residue limits (MRL) were detected in 21% of the samples and 79% of the samples had no residues of the pesticides surveyed or contained residues below the MRL. Multiple residues were present in 40% of the samples with two to four pesticides, and four samples were contaminated with more than four pesticide residues. Of the pesticides investigated, 16 were detected, of which imidacloprid, deltamethrin, cypermethrin, malathion, acetamiprid, monocrotophos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, and diazinon exceeded their MRLs. Aldrin, an organochlorine pesticide, was detected in one apple sample, with residues below the MRL. The results indicate the occurrence of pesticide residues in commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in Kuwait, and pointed to an urgent need to develop comprehensive intervention measures to reduce the potential health risk to consumers. The need for the regular monitoring of pesticide residues and the sensitization of farmers to better pesticide safety practices, especially the need to adhere to recommended pre-harvest intervals is recommended.

Evaluation of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

“…Pesticides play a role in many human health problems, and can exert acute effects, such as dizziness, headaches, rashes, and nausea, and chronic effects, such as cancers, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, birth defects, impaired fertility, and endocrine system disruption [3]. Children are particularly susceptible to exposure to pesticides [4]. Consequently, governments of different countries have enacted legislation in order to reduce consumer exposure to harmful pesticides, and regulate the appropriate use of pesticides in terms of the authorization that is granted, the type of registration (application rates and pre-harvest intervals), and allowing for free deliberation as to which products are to be treated with pesticides as long as the treatment complies with the established maximum residue limits (MRLs) [5].…”

Cabbage or ‘pesticide’ on the platter? Chemical analysis reveals multiple and excessive residues in African vegetable markets

“…This has made brassica crops gain popularity in developing countries (Madisa et al 2010;Mazhawidza and Mvumi 2017), making them a significant daily dietary component due to their richness in vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants (FAO 2004). Simultaneously however, brassicas have become a major source of public health risk due to high incidence of pesticides residues (Szpyrka et al 2015;Donkor et al 2016;Jallow et al 2017) associated with pesticide abuse (Ngowi et al 2007;Machekano et al 2019). In the drive to sustain food production in Africa, the use of insecticides in horticultural production systems is indispensable (Bhanti et al 2004;Obopile et al 2008;Williamson et al 2008;Madisa et al 2010).…”

“…In Botswana, and indeed other developing countries, pesticide related health issues constitute a serious threat to development (Ngowi et al 2007;Macharia et al 2015;Jallow et al 2017), yet, data on public health risk assessment, detection and quantification of potentially harmful pesticide residues in vegetables or related products remain scarce. Cognizant of the uncontrolled injudicious use of pesticides against P. xylostella (see details in Machekano et al 2019) and using cabbages as a case study, we hypothesize that chemical residues are present on consumer-ready-cabbages at all three types of dominant domestic vegetable markets in Botswana.…”

Efficacy of some biorational insecticides against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions in Kuwait

“…Although the potential use of biopesticides in managing T. absoluta has been explored, less information is available about their use in Kuwait. Pest management tools, apart from chemical pesticides, are not readily available or have not been suitably adopted by Kuwaiti farmers to manage T. absoluta and many other pests (Jallow, Awadh, Albaho, Devi, & Ahmad, 2017c;Jallow, Awadh, Albaho, Devi, & Thomas, 2017a, 2017b. Exploring the suitability of biopesticides against T. absoluta and their integration with other control strategies will provide an added benefit for the sustainable management of this pest, especially in organic farms.…”