Dissipation Kinetics and Risk Assessment of Carbendazim in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill)

Dissipation of carbendazim residues on tomato, applied twice at the rate of 250 and 500 g a.i. ha⁻¹, with the first spray during fruit setting followed by the second application after 7 days, is reported. Tomato samples were collected on 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days after application and residues estimated using a UPLC-MS/MS in ESI positive ionization mode. The initial residue levels ranged between 2.89 and 5.15 mg kg⁻¹ which dissipated with half life of 2.47 and 2.98 days to become safe for harvest after 5.11 and 7.13 days, respectively. Based on the risk assessment studies, the produce will become safe for consumption after 3 days of application of carbendazim.