DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN EGGPLANT AND CUCUMBER COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF DINAJPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyze seven organophosphorus (OP) and pesticide residues in two common vegetables (eggplant and cucumber) collected from five different areas (Ambari Bazar, Bahadur Bazar, Laxmitola Bazar, Fulbari Bazar and Parbatipur Natun Bazar) of Dinajpur district from September 2017 to March 2018. The collected samples were analyzed using Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction technique and Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled with Flame Thermionic Detector (FTD) for the determination of pesticide residues in 40 samples of eggplant and 40 samples of cucumber. Among the analyzed 40 samples of eggplant, 5 samples (12.5%) contained residues of diazinon. All of the contaminated samples contained residue above the maximum residue limits (MRLs). In case of cucumber, among the 40 analyzed samples, 4 samples (10%) contained residues of chlorpyrifos, quinalphos, acephate, dimethoate and fenitrothion, where 1 sample contained multiple pesticide residues. Among these 4 samples, 2 samples contained residues above MRLs and 2 samples contained residues below MRLs diazinon were detected in the contaminated eggplant sample, while chlorpyrifos, quinalphos, acephate, dimethoate and fenitrothion were detected in the contaminated cucumber sample. This study reflects the over all scenario of pesticide contamination in vegetables especially in eggplant and cucumber available in the retail markets of Dinajpur district, which will help the consumer to be aware of their health and safety.