ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Investigation of Multi-Pesticide Residues
in Prunus persica L. (peach) Cultivars of District
Swat Using Gas Chromatography-Mass
Spectroscopy
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1
Department of Soil and Climate Sciences, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Haripur, Pakistan
2
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir Upper, Pakistan
3
Department of Plant Protection, Agriculture University Peshawar, Pakistan
4
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germ Plasma Enhancement, Centre of Pear Engineering Technology
Research, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing 210095, China
Submission date: 2021-05-29
Final revision date: 2021-08-04
Acceptance date: 2021-08-30
Online publication date: 2022-01-21
Publication date: 2022-03-22
Corresponding author
Waqar Khan
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and germ plasma enhancement, Centre of pear engineering technology research, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing 210095, China, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(2):1535-1542
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ABSTRACT
Protection of agricultural crops from pests and diseases is very important to fulfill the needs
of growing population. For this purpose, different types of chemicals are used which leads
to the accumulation of toxic organic and inorganic compounds in agricultural cycle particularly
in economically important fruits and vegetables. Pesticide residue analysis is fundamentally
important to ensure the safety of foods, plant and animal origin, and to preserve the environment. It
is therefore crucial to monitor fruits and vegetables for pesticide residues using available advanced
analytical techniques. The current study was assigned to investigate pesticide residues in peach fruit.
We selected six peach cultivars (Early Grand, Florida King, NJC (05), Elberta (06), Maria Delezia,
and Indian blood) from four different locations of district Swat. The sampled fruit varieties were then
analysed for pesticide residues using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Results
showed that Early Grand variety had pesticide residues with highest concentration of Cypermethrin
(16.7±1.38 μg kg-1) followed by Pyridaben (7.425±0.11μg kg-1). In Florida King, the highest c
oncentration of Endosulfan (32.78±0.9 μg kg-1) is detected followed by Metachlore (17.36±0.44 μg kg-1).
In variety NJC and Elberta, Pyredaben, Propachlor, Carbofuran, Cypermethrine, Endosulfan, and
Cyhalothrine compound were found. In both varieties, Endosulfan was in the highest concentration
(21.27±1.20 μg kg-1and 67.94±4.61 μg kg-1respectively). As these two varieties had close harvesting
time, both varieties showed a similar pattern of pesticide residues. In variety Maria, Difenaconazole
was found in the highest concentration (187.51μg kg-1) while the Indian blood variety difenaconazole was noted with the highest concentration (88.60±8.9 μg kg-1). The Chloropyrifos was not detected in any
variety and the possible reason may be, it is applied at flowering stage before fruit initiation. Although
all cultivars at different locations had pesticide residues, however it cannot be considered a serious
public health problem because compounds and their residual levels were below critical concentration as
defined by European Union regulations. Furthermore, judicious use of pesticides in fruit and vegetable
would certainly ensure their minimal exposure in products.