Persistence of carbaryl and its risk assessment through consumption of treated grapes

Abstract

The average initial deposits of carbaryl were observed to be 1.4 and 3.1 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, following four applications of the insecticide at 4.95 and 9.9 kg active ingredient per hectare. Residues of carbaryl dissipated below its limit of quantification of 50 µg kg⁻¹ after 7 and 10 days at single and double the application dosage, respectively. The half-life values (t _1/2) of carbaryl were worked out to be 1.3 and 0.7 days, respectively, at single and double dosages. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for carbaryl has been fixed at 8 µg kg⁻¹ body weight per day. Keeping in view the residues of carbaryl observed one day after the last application, a child of 10 kg and an adult of 60 kg will have an intake of 77 and 154 µg carbaryl after consumption of 100 and 200 g grapes, in comparison to its ADI of 80 and 480 µg; thus, no health risk is to be expected. Therefore, a waiting period of 1 day has been suggested for the safe consumption of carbaryl-treated grapes to avoid any health hazards.

Keywords:

• carbaryl
• grape berries
• residues
• persistence
• ADI

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India for sponsoring the project and also to the Head, Department of Entomology, PAU, Ludhiana and Director, PAU Regional Research Station Abohar, for providing research facilities.