Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Organic Waste in Amphoe Muang Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

The objective of this study aims to monitor pesticide residues in organic waste in Northeast Thailand. A total of 22 pesticides from different chemical groups (organochlorine, organophosphate and pyrethroid) in the different organic wastes collected from the markets in Khon Kaen province, were monitored in the rainy, winter and summer seasons during August 2010 to April 2011 by gas chromatography. The most frequently found pesticides were cypermethrin followed by chlorpyrifos, deltametrhrin, dicrotophos and lambda-cyhalothrin, respectively (ranging from 0.044 to 2.608 mg/kg). It was found that some kinds of pesticides exceed the maximum residual limit (MRL) value. Pesticide residue in organic waste was found higher in winter season followed by summer and rainy season, respectively. The pesticide residues were mostly found in kale followed by cabbages, lettuce and corn peel.