Think pesticide residues on vegetables can be simply washed away? Research studies have found that simple washing of vegetables may remove them of superficial dirt but only about half of the pesticide residues on vegetables are rid by continuous washing under tap water.
Researchers say that simple washing doesn’t bring pesticide residue levels below the Maximum Residue Limit.
Pesticide residues are found on most vegetables like tomatoes and while the use of pesticides itself is discouraged some scientists say that dosage in low levels is effective against pests harming plants. In separate studies, researchers from JNTU Anantapur and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University analysed the effect of simple tap water washing on pesticide residues.
Researchers say that among vegetables, tomato, brinjal, ladies finger and cauliflower are the ones households should be most careful about
Since these are vegetables that are affected most by pests and hence use of pesticide spraying on these is the highest, according to a JNTU Anantapur research team headed by Dr K. Lakshmi Devi.
According to experiments, washing with running tap water reduces pesticide residues by only about 37 per cent. Heavy washing can rid residues up to 73 per cent, researchers said.
Another study carried out by ANGRAU found that recovery of Endosulfan pesticide from tomatoes was in excess of 80 per cent. “Washing under running tap water reduces Dimethoate residues by 48 per cent, whereas Methylparathion by 50 per cent, Quinolphos by 52 per cent, Endosulfan by 53 per cent and Profenophos by 47 per cent. Washing tomato samples under running tap water did not the reduce the levels below the MRL levels,” the ANGRAU study led by Dr Shashi Bhushan Vemuri stated.
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