Results of the monitoring program of pesticide residues in organic food of plant origin in Lombardy (Italy)

Organic agriculture, with its restrictions on the use of synthetic chemical inputs, seems to offer a low-residue alternative to conventional methods. In Europe, the Council Regulation n. 2092/91/EEC regulates the production and trade of organic products and foodstuffs; national and regional legislation in Italy gives specific guidance on the surveillance of organic agriculture. However, monitoring of specific chemical residues in organic foodstuffs is part of the regular controls on food, aiming to safeguard consumer's health. Monitoring programs are coordinated at the national level by the Ministry of Health and at local level by Regional authorities. In Lombardy, in accordance with the provisions of the General Directorate of Health of the Region and under the supervision of the 15 Local Health Units, a monitoring program of pesticide residues in food of plant origin is undertaken every year. The International Centre for Pesticides and Health Risk Prevention (ICPS), on behalf of the General Directorate of Health of the Region of Lombardy, has been collecting and elaborating the data resulting from the analysis of food samples, carried out by the local laboratories. During the period 2002–2005, a total of 3508 samples food of plant origin were analyzed for pesticide residues, among which were 266 samples of organic farming products. Commodities were classified into groups (citrus fruits, legumes, vegetables, potatoes, processed products, cereals, and fruit other than citrus) and the outcomes of the analyses were reported by year, origin of the sample and presence/absence of pesticide residues. Results showed that the vast majority of organic farming products were in conformity with the relevant legislation and did not contain detectable pesticide residues. A limited amount of samples had residues at concentration below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). Only in one sample the residue level was above the MRL, however it did not pose a concern for public health, as demonstrated by the outcomes of dietary risk assessment. Organic fruits and vegetables can be expected to contain fewer agrochemical residues than conventionally grown alternatives. There is a widespread belief that organic agriculture products are safer and healthier than conventional foods. It is difficult to come to conclusions, but what should be made clear to the consumer is that “organic” does not automatically equal “safe”. In the absence of adequate comparative data, additional studies in this area of research are required.     

5种水培植物对富营养化水体的净化能力

为了研究水培植物对富营养化水体的净化能力,将莴笋(Lactuca sativa var.angustata)、空心菜(Ipomoeaaquatica)、番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)、生菜(Lactuca sativa var.ramosa)和黄瓜(Cucumis sativus)5种蔬菜放置于富营养化水体中培养,定期测定水体中总氮和总磷含量的变化。实验结果表明,水培莴笋、空心菜、番茄、生菜和黄瓜对富营养化水体中总氮的去除率分别为66.45%、91.28%、93.74%、93.04%和90.11%;对总磷的去除率分别为96.44%、97.48%、85.62%、88.08%和90.97%。比较5种水培蔬菜单位鲜重的总氮和总磷去除能力,结果表明,生菜的总氮和总磷去除能力最强,分别为0.69 mg/(L.g FW)和0.06 mg/(L.g FW),可作为净化富营养化水体优先选择的植物物种。     

Harvest time residues of pendimethalin in tomato,cauliflower, and radish under field conditions

Herbicides applied to vegetables play an important role in higher production of vegetables due to effective and timely control of weeds but at the same time herbicides residue may produce numerous environmental problems. The aim of this study was to determine whether application of herbicide for control of annual weeds in vegetable growing areas at recommended levels resulted in residues at the time of harvest. Thus, terminal residues of pendimethalin in vegetables such as tomato, cauliflower, and radishes were studies under field conditions. Pendimethalin was applied as pre-emergence herbicides at 1 kg a.i. ha^?1 to tomato, cauliflower, and radish crops. Soil and vegetables samples were collected from pendimethalin-treated plots at maturity to determine harvest time residues of pendimethalin. At harvest, 0.008, 0.001, and 0.014 μg/g residues of pendimethalin were found in tomato, cauliflower, and radishes, respectively.     

Pesticides residues in vegetables in and around Delhi

This article presents the development of a multiresidue method forthe estimation of 30 insecticides, 15 organochlorineinsecticides and 6 organophosphorus insecticides, 9 syntheticpyrethriods and 2 herbicides and their quantificationin vegetables. The monitoring study indicates that though allthe vegetable samples were contaminated with pesticides, only31% of the samples contained pesticides above the prescribedtolerance limit.     

重庆市畜禽粪便及菜田土壤中四环素类抗生素生态风险评价

近年来新型有机污染物抗生素在环境中的残留及对生态环境的风险成为国内外研究的热点.在畜禽养殖业中四环素类抗生素（tetracycline antibiotics,TCs）使用量最大,在畜禽粪便中的残留量也最高.本文采用调查研究结合室内分析,客观评价了重庆市主要大型养殖场畜禽粪便和主要蔬菜基地菜田土壤中3种农用四环素类抗生素[土霉素（OTC）、四环素（TC）和金霉素（CTC）]可能存在的环境生态风险.结果表明,2014年猪粪和鸡粪中的OTC、TC、CTC和TCs总量∑TCs的平均值分别为13.05、91.81、62.48、167.34 mg·kg^-1和4.25、4.6、28.55、37.40 mg·kg^-1.2019年所调查的样品中猪粪和鸡粪中的OTC、TC、CTC和∑TCs平均含量分别为3.39、4.82、5.92、15.95 mg·kg^-1和1.10、1.35、4.22、5.16 mg·kg^-1,相比2014年,2019年重庆市畜禽粪便中TCs含量有大幅度的下降,TCs的检出率也有所降低.鸡粪中的TCs生态风险较猪粪要低,2019年畜禽粪便中的TCs生态风险较2014年大幅度降低,不同抗生素间总体比较,风险商值以CTC > OTC > TC.重庆主要蔬菜基地及周边地区菜田土壤中OTC、TC、CTC和∑TCs的平均含量分别为18.92、39.10、21.80和79.81 μg·kg^-1.TCs含量大小顺序为养殖场附近菜田 > 无公害蔬菜基地 > 普通菜田;在养殖场附近的菜田中,露地TCs含量普遍高于大棚,而在无公害蔬菜基地,TCs含量表现为大棚 > 露地.从菜田TCs的生态风险商值整体上看,各类种植模式下的HQ均<1,即无高风险.3种TCs的HQ值以CTC > OTC > TC.土壤∑TCs含量以叶菜类 > 瓜类 > 茄果类 > 豆类,种植不同类型蔬菜的菜田土壤TCs含量略有差异,可能跟不同蔬菜栽培模式、畜禽粪便种类及施肥量有关系.     

A fast and reliable method for quantitative determination of total mercury in vegetables

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) process using the nonionic surfactant, polyethylene glycol tert octylphenyl ether (Triton X-114) was employed for determination of Hg(II) ions in aqueous solutions. The method is based on the ion-pairing reaction of Hg(II) with Pyronin B (PyrB⁺) in the presence of excess iodide at pH 6.0 and extraction of the complex formed. The chemical variables affecting CPE efficiency were studied, and the analytical characteristics of the method were obtained. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 1–40 μg L^?1 with the detection limits of 0.35 and 0.30 μg L^?1 at 556 and 521 nm. Selectivity was also tested. The coefficients of variation of the method are 2.4% and 5.2% for five replicate measurements of mercury at levels of 10 and 25 μg L^?1, respectively. The results obtained for two certified reference samples were in a good agreement with the certified values. The method was applied to the determination of total mercury in vegetable samples.     

Species-level study on arsenic availability from dietary components

Arsenic (As) contaminated water and foodstuffs are of major concern. Samples of drinking–cooking water (n = 50), raw rice (n = 50), common vegetables (eight types), and common pulses (three types) were collected from households in the endemic region. The study found up to 70% As reduction by using safe water for cooking of rice and vegetables. Speciation study reflected more arsenate than arsenite and other organic arsenicals in all the types of samples. Male intake of 293 μg As through drinking water contained 38 μg arsenite and 246 μg arsenate, and female intake of 199 μg As contained 167 μg arsenate and 25 μg arsenite. In cooked rice, 108 μg As contained 69 μg arsenate and 17 μg arsenite with 9 μg dimethylarsonic acid (DMA). Total As consumption from cooked vegetables was 45 μg with 34 and 4 μg of arsenite and arsenate, respectively, and 5 μg of DMA. Data indicate that cooking with As-free water removes arsenic in already contaminated foodstuffs but without interconversion of the As species, from toxic inorganic to less toxic organic forms.     

Substitution of toxicologically critical solvents in the residue analysis of acetamiprid: Towards green chemistry

The article presents the reduced use of toxicologically critical solvents for the extraction and clean-up of a neo-nicotinoid pesticide, acetamiprid from vegetables. Acetamiprid was extracted from spiked vegetable samples of cabbage by the use of different techniques like microwave-assisted extraction (MWAE), sonication and by the conventional method of homogenization. The study revealed that though higher percent recoveries of 78–92 were obtained in the blending method, solvent use was high as compared to MWAE. In MWAE, the percent recoveries recorded were in the range of 46–89 depending upon the solvent used and power employed. A mixture of methanol–water and methanol–acetone at 400 W power levels gave percent recoveries of 72 and 82, respectively, as compared to solvent mixtures, namely, acetone–hexane and acetone–hexane–water, which recorded recoveries of 49 and 67%. The study indicates that the choice of solvent and power employed plays a significant role in MWAE for enhanced recoveries.     

北京市典型有机设施蔬菜基地重金属污染特征及风险评估

为研究北京市典型有机设施蔬菜基地重金属污染状况,采用野外调查及室内分析法,选取北京市5个有机设施蔬菜基地中125个土壤样品和77个蔬菜样品进行了Pb、Cd、Cr、As和Hg含量的检测、统计分析与评价,对土壤重金属含量与土壤理化指标进行了相关分析,研究了重金属在蔬菜中的迁移规律,并结合美国环保署(US EPA)推荐采用的健康风险评价模型,评价由于蔬菜摄入导致的成人和儿童的健康风险。结果表明,5个设施蔬菜基地中有极少数土壤样本Cd含量超标,有极少数叶菜样本Cr含量超标,其他重金属含量均未超标。污染指数评价表明5个基地土壤重金属污染排序为:基地5基地1基地3基地2基地4,主要由土壤Cd累积所致。土壤重金属与理化性质相关性表明,5种重金属含量都受土壤的理化性质影响较大。总体上,5种重金属在土壤-蔬菜中迁移能力排序为:CdHgAsCrPb,在不同类蔬菜中的富集系数排序为:叶菜类茄果类瓜果类豆菜类。5种重金属造成的目标危害系数大小依次为:CdPbAsHgCr,不同类蔬菜的综合重金属目标危害系数值排序为:叶菜类茄果类瓜果类豆菜类,所有蔬菜单一重金属目标危害系数和复合危害系数都远小于1,说明单一重金属和复合重金属污染对成人和儿童都没有明显的负面健康影响。     

Cadmium Concentration in Vegetables Grown on Urban Soils Irrigated with Untreated Municipal Sewage

Cadmium (Cd) is considered as a potential toxin that is principally dispersed in natural and agricultural environments through anthropogenic sources. Untreated municipal sewage, often a potential source of Cd, is generally used to irrigate urban agricultural soils in many developing countries. A study was carried out to determine Cd concentration in untreated municipal sewage and sewage-irrigated soils and vegetables. The metal ion concentration in municipal sewage was found 3-fold (0.03mgL^–1) its permissible concentration in irrigation water (0.01mgL^–1). Ammonium bicarbonate–diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid NH₄HCO₃–DTPA) extractable Cd concentration in top 0.15m soil ranged between 0.25 and 0.34mgkg^–1. Soil Cd concentration was significantly correlated with soil clay content, pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity. Cadmium availability index (CDI) decreased with an increase in soil depth. The metal ion was found in leaf (0.17–0.24mgkg^–1 fresh weight) and fruit (0.07–0.18mgkg^–1 fresh weight) portions of all the sampled vegetables: bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.), okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], onion (Allium cepa L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Leafy tissue accumulated Cd about twice that of the fruit portion. Our results suggest that prolonged ingestion of sewage-irrigated leafy vegetables can develop such Cd levels in human body that may cause a number of illnesses.