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This study was designed to assess the gradual increase in the use of insecticides on vegetables and to familiarize the consumers regarding the insecticide residues. The purpose of this research work was to highlight the detrimental effects of pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, lambda-cyhalothrin, and permethrin) compare with dietary intake assessment of eggplant and okra grown in peri-urban environment. In this manner, a total of 180 (n = 60 × 3) samples of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were procured from the peri-urban farming system of Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala to assess the pyrethroid residues along with their dietary intake assessment. The procured vegetables were quantified for pyrethroid residues by using gas chromatography (GC) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD). Outcomes of this study revealed that for okra samples, the highest residues of bifenthrin (1.25 mg kg−1) were found in Gujranwala then Multan (1.5 mg kg−1) and Faisalabad (1.04 mg kg−1), whereas in eggplant, the highest residues were recorded for bifenthrin from Faisalabad (1.33 mg kg−1) and Gujranwala (0.78 mg kg−1). In Multan, the highest residues for cyfluthrin (1.18 mg kg−1) were reported in eggplant. Out of all analyzed samples for pyrethroid residues, 32% samples contained detectable residues and 6% samples exceeded their maximum residual limits (MRLs) established by the European Union (EU). Dietary intake assessment (mg kg−1 day−1) was calculated as per their maximum permissible intake (MPI) values, i.e., bifenthrin (1.28), cyfluthrin (1.28), cypermethrin (3.20), deltamethrin (0.64), fenvalerate (1.28), lambda-cyhalothrin (0.064), and permethrin (3.20) respectively. Conclusively, residues from the Multan region were greater than those from Gujranwala and Faisalabad showing excessive application of pyrethroids. Overall results revealed that although some samples exceeded MRLs in selected areas, their safe consumption limit was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work was designed to estimate the gradually increasing use of insecticides on vegetables to create awareness among the consumers regarding their insecticide residues. The main aim of this study is to highlight the harmful effects of insecticides in comparison with dietary intake assessment of vegetables. In this regard, total 180 (n = 60x3) samples of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) comprising of 30 samples vegetable were collected from the peri-urban farming system of Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala to assess insecticide residues along with their dietary intake assessment. The selected samples were quantified for the insecticide residues by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique equipped with UV/Visible detector. Results revealed that imidacloprid residues found in eggplant (0.226 mg Kg-1) and okra (0.176 mg Kg-1) from Multan region were greater than the residues reported from Gujranwala and Faisalabad. Out of all analyzed samples for imidacloprid and acetamaprid residues, 58% and 65% samples contained detectable residues respectively. Whereas 10% and 15% samples exceeded their maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by European Commission. Dietary intake assessment for imidacloprid and acetamiprid was calculated as per their maximum permissible intake (MPI) values i.e. 3.84 and 4.48 mg person-1day-1, respectively, which revealed that although a reasonable proportion of samples exceeded MRLs but their consumption was found within safe limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of organo-chlorine pesticides as a result of utilization of okra and brinjal to urban population has been estimated in this study. GC-ECD was used for quantification of a-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, HCH, Gamma HCH, DDT and DDE residues from 180 samples of okra and brinjal collected from peri-urban farming area of Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala. Quantification of pesticide residues revealed that 280 samples were contaminated and 23 samples showed residues value higher than MRL'S. Out of 280 contaminated samples, 50 samples were contaminated with a-endosulfan, 48 samples with β-endosulfan,49 with endosulfan sulphate, 27 samples with HCH, 33 samples with gamma HCH, 34 samples with DDT and 39 were contaminated with DDE. Overall, 7.33% samples of okra and 6.44% samples of brinjal contaminated with a-endosulfan exceeded EU MRL of 0.05 mg kg-1, 8.67% samples of okra and 7.33% samples of brinjal had β-endosulfan residue level above MRL of 0.05 mg kg-1 and approximately, 8.67% samples of okra and 7.33% samples of brinjal had endosulfan sulphate residue level above MRL of 0.05 mg kg-1. While, no sample of okra and brinjal had HCH, Gamma HCH, DDT and DDE level above MRL of 0.01, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.05 mg kg-1, respectively. This study may be helpful in creating a database about regional exposure of urban population and facilitate in evaluation of potential threat and risk to their health in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peri urban farming system is main supplier of vegetables to urban population and organophosphate pesticides exposure due to consumption of okra and brinjal to urban population has been estimated in this study. Okra and brinjal samples (90 samples for each vegetable) were collected from peri-urban farming area of Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala and were analysed by GC-ECD for quantification of chlorpyrifos, profenophos and triazophos residues. Data were statistically analyzed to calculate, mean and standard deviation. Quantification of pesticides residues revealed that 85 (47.22%) samples were contaminated and 15 (8.33 % of total samples and 17.64% of contaminated) samples showed residues value higher than MRL'S. Out of 85 contaminated samples 27 (31.76%) samples were contaminated with chlorpyrifos, 30 (35.29%) samples with profenofos and 29 (34.11) were contaminated with triazophos. The mean concentration of chlorpyrifos in okra was 0.192 mg Kg-1 and brinjal 0.197 mg Kg-1. The mean concentration for profenofos in okra was 0.02 mg Kg-1 and brinjal 0.035 mg Kg-1. Similarly mean concentration for triazophos in okra was 0.009 mg Kg-1 and brinjal 0.01 mg Kg-1. Overall, 6.67% samples of okra and 6.66% samples of brinjal contaminated with chlorpyrifos exceeded EU MRL of 0.05 mg kg-1. Okra samples were found contaminated at frequency of 4.44% and brinjal samples at frequency of 5.56% with higher profenofos residues level than MRL of 0.05 mg kg-1. Approximately, 6.67% samples of okra and 5.6% samples of brinjal had profenofos residue level above MRL of 0.01 mg kg-1. This study may be helpful for building database regarding regional exposure of urban population and facilitate in estimation of possible risk to their health in our daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]