Pesticide residues in vegetables grown in calcareous soils of Bihar

Vegetables such as chilli (Capsicum annum L.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis), brinjal (Solanum melongina L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.); widely grown in Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar were analyzed for pesticide residues. Five commonly pesticides, namely endosulfan, malathion, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and fenvalerate were analyzed by gas chromatography. The samples were found contaminated with trace amounts of pesticides. Cauliflower was contaminated with endosulfan [ND (Not detectable)- 0.594 mg kg⁻¹], chlorpyrifos (ND-0.056 mg kg⁻¹), malathion (0.182 mg kg⁻¹) and fenvalerate (ND-0.064 mg kg⁻¹) in farmgate samples, whereas none of the samples were found contaminated in case of chilli. Most of the brinjal samples were contaminated but few of the samples were above the maximum residues level. The content of pesticides residues in soil was very less because of their low persistence in soils.