Persistent chlorinated pesticide residues in selected market vegetables of root and leaf origin

B. Kumar*, S. Kumar, M. Mishra

Abstract

Aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and lindane pesticides analyzed in selected root and leaf vegetables. The concentration of total organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was ranged between, <0.01-6.00 ng/g, with an average of 2.16±0.21 ng/g (wet wt.). The concentration of individual aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and lindane was 0.48±0.06 ng/g, 0.13±0.02 ng/g, 1.03±0.11 ng/g and 0.52±0.06 ng/g (wet wt.), respectively. The selected vegetables had residue levels, much below the recommended maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by European Commission and Indian government.