Determination of Pesticide Residues in Most Commonly Consumed Leafy Vegetables in Riyadh Region (Al-Kharej Province)

Abstract

A total of 81 samples of various leafy vegetables viz., Rocket (Eruca sativa), Lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Corchorus (Corchorus olitorius), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Dill (Anethum graveolens), Mint (Mentha sachalinensis) and Green onions (Allium cepa) were collected from 20 different areas in Riyadh region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Liquid-Liquid Extraction of extraction partitioning method and confirmation by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer for the presence of various pesticide residues was performed. Pesticide residues were detected in all the collected samples with varying concentrations. A variety of pesticides including organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, herbicides, acaricides and insecticides have been identified in the samples. While the residue levels were low for most pesticides, higher levels of chlorpyrifos (0.123 mg/kg and resmethrin (0.1 mg/kg) were found in Rocket, carbaryl (0.92 mg/kg) in spinach and corchorus (0.116 mg/kg), permethrin (total cis + trans permethrin) inlettuce (0.103 mg/kg) and coriander (0.126 mg/kg), and cypermethrin in parsley (0.126 ppm). The highest maximum residue limit (MRL) values of pesticide residues on leafy vegetables of 0.10 mg/kg were observed for carbaryl in Spinach and Corchorus, whereas in Parsley an MRL of 0.5 mg/kg was found. The current research shows that in some leafy vegetables, higher doses of pesticides were found.