Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from the southern part of Botswana

ABSTRACT

This study reports a surveillance of multi-pesticide residues of fruits and vegetables sold in the local markets carried out in 2018–2019 in Botswana to access consumer safety. A validated method for analysis of 232 pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables was applied, based on QuEChERS-GC-MS/MS methodology. A total of 83 fruit and vegetable sold in different markets were bought from three different areas of the southern region . Levels of pesticides ranged between 0.0032 ± 0.0009 mg/kg and 70.4 ± 19.4 mg/kg. A total of 78% of the samples contained pesticide residues, whereas only 13% of the samples violated the EU/Codex MRLs. In particular, rape vegetable samples exceeded legislative limits most, followed by cabbage, green pepper and tomato. The most frequently detected compounds were chlopyrifos, chlorfenapyr, tebuconazole, methamidophos and cypermethrin. These results will serve as a foundation for future studies, involving continuous monitoring programmes.

KEYWORDS:

• Multi-pesticides residues
• maximum residue limit
• fruits and vegetables
• quechers
• GC-MS/MS

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the National Food Technology Research Centre for the support. We would like to extend our gratefulness towards Dr Martin Kebakile, the Managing Director for his unwavering support on this project. We also wish to thank our colleagues in the Food Chemistry Department for their cooperation throughout this project. Thanks also to the Finance and Supplies Department for supplying all necessary resources on time for this project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare absence of any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Botswana Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security through funding disbursed to the National Food Technology Research Centre; National Food Technology Research Centre, Botswana.