The occurrence of pesticide residues in UK home‐grown and imported wheat

Abstract

Residue levels of organophosphorus, organochlorine and carbarmate insecticides, urea, carbamate and anilide herbicides, carbendazim, fumigants and bromide were determined in home-grown and imported wheat sampled at U K jlour mills during the period February 1987 to December 1988. A total of 764 samples was analysed but not all the wheats were tested for all the residues; 140 of 474 samples examined for organophosphorus insecticides contained residues at levels above the reporting limit, 23 of 119 samples contained residues of gamma-HCH, seven of 104 contained carbon tetrachloride and one of 104 contained 1,2-dibromoethane. N o residues of urea, carbamate or anilide herbicides, carbendazim, carbaryl or methyl bromide were detected in 32,40, 44 and 45 samples respectively. Inorganic bromide levels in 45 samples examined were consistent with natural occurrence. Only a single imported wheat was found to contain a residue (of 1,2-dibromoethane) at a level in excess of U K statutory maximum residue levels. I03Pestic. Sci.

Management of pests on wheat and other cereal crops with an IPM program

“…Osborne et al (1989) stated that maximum residue levels are not prescribed for wheat in the United Kingdom. They found no residues of 10 herbicides that exceeded 1 mg kg~l.…”

“…HCH residues in wheat flour samples collected in 1983 averaged 4.4 ppm, which exceeds FAO/WHO standards (Kaphalia et al, 1990). Analysis of wheat produced in the U.K. and imported from the European continent and the U.S. for a wide range of fungicides and insecticides revealed no samples which exceeded food safety standards (Osborne et al, 1989).…”