Organochlorine and organophosphate pesticide residues in wheat varieties from Serbia.

A survey was carried out to assess the levels of 20 organochlorine and 15 organophosphate pesticides in wheat grown in two regions of the Vojvodina Province in Serbia. A total of 49 samples of seven wheat varieties were collected during the 2004 harvest. In addition, a composite sample of cultivated wheat varieties was prepared from 36 samples coming from the same regions harvested in 2003 for comparison. Official method of analysis AOAC 970.52 was applied for the determination of pesticide residues. The ranges of mean values for organochlorine residues were 32-47 ng g(-1) for beta-HCH; 28-41 ng g(-1) for gamma-HCH; <1-61 ng g(-1) for aldrin; 5-132 ng g(-1) for dieldrin; 15-111 ng g(-1) for endrin ketone; and <1-77 ng g(-1) for endrin aldehyde. For organophosphate residues the ranges were: 7-27 ng g(-1) for thionazin; <5-35 ng g(-1) for disulphoton; 42-79 ng g(-1) for parathion methyl; 422-1336 ng g(-1) for chlorpyriphos; and <5-281 ng g(-1) for parathion. The mean levels of residues were compared with the regulated maximum levels according to the European Commission and Serbian national regulation, and the average intake of residues from wheat-based products was estimated for the Serbian population.