Pesticide residues in vegetable samples from the Andaman Islands, India

Vegetable samples of brinjal, okra, green chilli, crucifers, and cucurbits collected from farmers' field were tested for the presence of organochlorine (OC), organophosphorus (OP), and synthetic pyrethroid (SP) compounds using a gas chromatograph equipped with electron capture and flame thermionic detectors. Of the samples tested, 34.0 % were found to have pesticide residues. Among the OC compounds, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate were detected in 14.5 % of the samples with residues. These were taken from crucifer, okra, green chilli, and cucurbit samples. SP compound residues, such as α-cypermethrin, fenvalerate I, fluvalinate I, deltamethrin, and λ-cyhalothrin were detected in 32 % of the samples with residues. OP compound residues such as chlorpyrifos, profenofos, monocrotophos, triazophos, ethion, dimethoate, and acephate were found in 54 % of the samples with residues, which were taken from all vegetable samples. Of the positive samples, 15.3 % were found to contain residues exceeding the prescribed maximum residue limit. The average pesticide residue content across all the vegetable samples was 0.108 ppm, with values ranging from 0.008 to 2.099 ppm. Multiple residues of more than one compound were detected in 34.1 % of samples containing residues.