Effect of decontamination processing on profenofos and cypermethrin residues in tomato fruits

Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of different tomato fruit decontamination processes like washing, cooking, washing plus cooking and dipping in chemical solutions on reduction of profenofos and cypermethrin residues after application of ready-mix formulation Roket 44EC (profenofos 40% +cypermethrin 4%) on the crop. Ready-mix formulation Roket 44EC was applied twice at the rate of 1ml/L at 15 days interval. Tomato fruits were collected at 0 (2 hours) and 3 days interval after the last spray and subjected to decontamination processes. Washing of zero day contaminated fruit samples provided 32.95–72.08% relief from profenofos residues and 38.12–75.17% relief from cypermethrin residues. Cooking degraded profenofos residues up to 44.74–65.77% and cypermethrin residues by 61.00–66.02%. Washing plus cooking was found to be the best technique in removing the residues. Washing of fruits in solutions like NaOH (2%) and HCl (0.05%) has also shown a good relief from profenofos and cypermethrin residues.