Abstract
Assessment of insecticide residues in eggplant farm soils and water
Author(s): Jinky Leilanie LuThis study aimed to investigate the insecticide residues in agricultural soil and water in Pangasinan which is the largest eggplant producing community in the Philippines.Atotal of 24 soil and water samples with replicates from 24 farms were collected. Eleven (45.8%) samples were found positive with insecticide residues. Soil samples were collected and delivered to the laboratory for insecticide residue analysis using gas chromatography. The positive residues were cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, triazophos, andmalathionwhich exceeded themaximumallowable concentration (MAC) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Commission (EC). Profenofos at 0.10ppmexceeded theMAC at 0.05ppm. Average triazophos residue detected in five farms registered at 0.02ppm in three farms, 0.04 in one farm, and 0.05ppmin another farm, all exceeding the Limit ofDetection (LOD) of EC at 0.01ppm. Chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin residues were minimal and within MAC. None of the water samples was found with insecticide residues. However, the active ingredients of the latter two insecticides have high bioaccumulation potential. This study showed soil contamination by insecticide residues. Necessary actions by the local government should be carried out to prevent the hazards posed by these insecticide residues in soil.
