Determination of Pesticide Residue Amounts in Fresh Grapes, Raisins and Pickled Grape Leaves Sold in Van Province

Abstract

Pesticides, although with many scientific studies have demonstrated that their damages to the environment and human health all over the world and in our country every day, are being more widespread plant protection products. The residues found in agricultural products bearing great importance in domestic and foreign trade can cause refusal of the products from border from time to time in the acceptance of our export products when they are detected in the range above the acceptable ratios. The present study tried to put the current situation and intended to determine in the amount of pesticide residues found in the samples of fresh grape, raisin, and brined vine leaves that are sold in the Van region and came from different regions, basically accepted as a grape producer in the country, such as Manisa, Kilis, Adıyaman-Besni, Siirt, Tokat, Balıkesir, Adana or Mersin, and even cross-border trade. Internationally recognized AOAC 2007.01 method was used in the pesticide analysis and 250 different pesticides were screened for each sample. In all 16 studied samples, 30 different pesticide residues were detected although the amounts and the resulting active substances of them were different, and it was also detected that some forbidden pesticides were used. Results were evaluated based on damage and allowed range given in Turkish Food Codex and the specified EU MRLs (Maximum Residue Limit) standards. 10 different pesticides were identified in the raisin, but there was no national or international standard range available, so the results could not be considered in the context of comparative damage threshold. A series observations and analysis was made in the brined vine leaves either home-made or the branded or unbranded commercial ones, and out of a commercial sample no pesticide residue was detected in the samples. Because there was no determined limit for the brined vine leaves, the comparisons were made on fresh vine standards, and 5 different pesticides were identified and found to be over the allowable range except one. It is thought that this study will be a reference for more specific studies that are planned to be implemented for some pesticide use in certain regions. Furthermore, this study is the first study conducted on the subject in the region. In the study the different grape products used and implementation and advice on what to do about pesticide residues were revealed. © 2017, Centenary University. All rights reserved.