Resumen

BENITEZ-DIAZ, Pedro et al. Pesticide residues in peel and pulp of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) coming from an agricultural region of Mérida State, Venezuela. Bioagro [online]. 2015, vol.27, n.1, pp.27-36. ISSN 1316-3361.

Given the toxic nature of pesticides and their usual application in agricultural crops grown for human consumption, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of pesticide residues in peel and pulp of potato (Solanum tuberosum  L.), harvested at the Rivas Dávila Municipality of Mérida, Venezuela. For analysis, the SPE-HPLC-DAD method was used. In the peel, eight pesticide residues, considered as potent neurotoxic and endocrine disruptors, were detected: chlorpyrifos (7.3 mg·kg^-1), diazinon (11.8 mg·kg^-1), dimethoate (0.56 mg·kg^-1), methamidophos (5.0 mg·kg^-1), carbofuran (1.4 mg·kg^-1), mancozeb (11.4 mg·kg^-1), methomyl (0.030 mg·kg^-1) and metribuzin (0.10 mg·kg^-1), all exceeding the MRLs set by Codex Alimentarius and the European Community. In the pulp, just five pesticide residues were detected: chlorpyrifos (13 mg·kg^-1), diazinon (5.2 mg·kg^-1), methamidophos (4.5 mg·kg^-1), carbofuran (1.13 mg·kg^-1) and mancozeb (2.51 mg·kg^-1), all of them above the MRLs. The extremely high concentrations of diazinon and chlorpyrifos particularly draws attention, the latter seems to concentrate more in the pulp. It is recommended to remove the skin before eating or processing potatoes, particularly because in the pulp, the frequency of detection diminished and almost all of the pesticides decreased in concentration. These results demonstrate that the improper use of pesticides in potato crops could adversely affect tuber quality, making vulnerable the health of the final consumers of the product.

Palabras clave : Agrochemicals; alimentary security; Bailadores; SPE-HPLC-DAD.

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