Pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables from Southeastern Poland, 2004-05

Our paper presents results from surveillance of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables carried out in 2004-05. 747 samples of 39 different types of fresh fruit and vegetables were analyzed for their pesticide residue contents. The highest resides found were: bupirimate residues (2.19 mg/kg), captan residues (1.82 mg/kg), ethylenebisdithiocarbamate residues (1.6 mg/kg), tolylfluanid residues (1.44 mg/kg), procymidone residues (1.19 mg/kg) and chlorpyrifos residues (1.01 mg/kg). In 27 samples (3.6%) residues exceeded national MRLs. Comparisons of the highest residues to ADI levels indicate that fresh fruit and vegetables from southeastern Poland seem to be quite safe for toddlers and adults.