Persistence of Deltamethrin on Chickpea and its Decontamination

The persistence of deltamethrin on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during storage was studied under laboratory conditions. The grains were treated @ 2 and 3 mg kg⁻¹ levels of deltamethrin and stored for six months. The recovery of 0.43 and 0.63 mg kg⁻¹ extractable residues after six months of treatment (2 and 3 mg kg⁻¹) corresponded to 22–23% residue availability on the grains. Culinary processes like washing and steaming dislodged the residues by 40 to 60% from stored grains. Steeping.of the grains in water and deskinning, thereafter could reduce the residues maximum to the extent of 37% but was still not able to bring it down to a safe level.