Determination of Pesticide Residues in Commercially Available Cucumber (Cucumis sativus l.) Fruits in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Pesticides usage in cultivated crops has the benefit of yield increase, especially when such pesticides control insect pests, weeds and diseases. However, the bane of toxic residues in the harvested produce is a major concern worldwide. The presence of pesticide residues in commercially available cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruits from five major markets in the five Local Government Areas in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone, Oyo State,. Nigeria, were determined. Samples collected were extracted using ethyl acetate and were cleaned up using florisil. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) was used to determine the pesticide residues. Seventeen pesticide residues (which belong to organochlorine, organophosphate and pyrethroids) were detected in the analysed cucumber samples. The levels of the majority of the residues detected compared with the European Union Maximum Residue Limits (EU MRLs) standard values. The results show that 13.6% of organochlorine, 4.5% of organophosphate and 13.6% of pyrethroids pesticide residues exceeded EU MRLs values. However, 20.5% of organochlorine, 2.3% of organophosphate and 45.5% of pyrethroids pesticide residues were below EU MRLs value. The total percentage of the higher and lower mean residue levels as compared with the EU MRLs were estimated to be 31.7% and 68.3%, respectively. The findings indicate that the public is exposed to minimal health risk of pesticide residues through cucumber consumption in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria.