Detection of Oxamyl and Imidacloprid Pesticide residues in Some Iraqi Vegetables

Abstract

Application of pesticide on vegetables will protect them from pest injury, but in another hand will hold pesticide residues inside vegetables. These residues have harmful effect against all consumers. Detection about pesticide residues has been carried out for some Iraqi vegetables (tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and zucchini) by using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS). QuEChERS method has been applied for extraction pesticide residues from targeted vegetables. The GC/MS has been carried out for distinguish the vegetables that are suffering from hyper concentration in pesticide residues more than maximum residues limits (MRLs) that is determinant by codex alimentarius. GC/MS analysis that is carried out reviled the existence of only bi-products belong to imidacloprid and oxamyl pesticides. The active ingredients of both pesticides degraded efficiently and there is no ability to trace them back. Some of the bi-products represent additives add to improve the ability of pesticides in killing pest. Some of those bi-products have toxicity when they combine with other kinds of components. The samples collected from two sites, the time of collection are beginning, mid, and end of month. The months that elected for collection samples are August, September, October, and November. The detection revealed that November is the best month regarding pesticide residues.