CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF RESIDUAL CONTENTS OF PESTICIDES IN RICE SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS OF PUNJAB

Abstract

During the past decade, the use of pesticides in agriculture has dramatically increased which is becoming a major threat to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the pesticide residues in Basmati and IRRI varieties of rice in different areas of Punjab. A total of 106 rice samples of different varieties were taken from rice mills of specified areas. The concentration of 4 pesticides (L-Cyhalothrin, Malathione, Monocrotophos and Cartap) was detected using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The residual contents of L-Cyhalothrin, Monocrotophos and Cartap residues were detected in all while of Malathione in only 16 samples. The average concentration of pesticides residues, though ranged from 0.08 to 0.1 mg/L, were statistically insignificant in all growing areas of rice and all varieties of rice. Interestingly, the mean levels of all pesticides was below the standard lethal doses which point towards no risk of acute poisoning but may become problematic during long exposures.