Pesticide residues in date palm and olive oil samples produced and consumed in Jordan

Abstract

The presence of pesticides in fruits and vegetables is becoming a growing concern not only for consumer but also for growers, processors and competent authorities in the entire world. In Jordan, there are only four specialized laboratories which have the required infrastructure to accurately determine pesticide residues in agricultural products. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of PPPs residues in nationally produced palm dates and olive oil for local consumption and exportation. Among the283 pesticides analyzed, only 7 were detected in palm dates at concentrations ranging from detectable/quantifiable below the MRLs (4 µg/kg for carbendazim) to values above the MRLs attaining (508 µg/kg for carbendazim). Regarding olive oil, only 4 were detected at concentrations ranging from detectable below MRLs (20 µg/kg) for cypernethrin to higher than MRLs (260 µg/kg) for chloropyrifos. The order of occurrence for PPPs in date samples was from the greatest to the lowest as follows: carbendazim (53.33%), hexythiasox (21.3%), spiromesifen (12%), thiacloprid and finazinan (2.6%), thiophanate-methyl (6.6%), and imidacloprid (1.3%) and was in olive oil as follows: chloropyrifos (27.45%), cypermethrin (25.49%) and finally both oxyfluorfen and myclobutanil (3.92%). 84% of the date samples had pesticide residue lower than MRLs and only 16% had residue higher than MRLs. However, in olive oil samples, 49.01% had residue below the MRLs, 9.8% were above the MRLs and interestingly in 41.17% had no detected pesticide residues. The main part of the palm date tested samples (80.32%) were containing simple pesticide residue and (19.67%) exhibited double pesticide residue. However, in olive oil samples, only one of the reported pesticides was detected. Although the limited biological diversity (just one-year samples), we suggest, the urgent implementation of programs designed to facilitate awareness about the health concerns from PPPs and programming a compulsory and periodical training sessions for specialized workers and traders in Jordan.