STRAWBERRY: A case of consumers poissoned by insufficiently trained farmers - FRUTILLA (FRESA): Un caso de consumidores envenenados por agricultores insuficientemente capacitados

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Due to the intensive use of pesticides in agriculture, the presence of residues of these substances in food products, as well as the human health risk that they involve, seem to be inevitable. The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of pesticide residues in strawberry (Fragraria × ananassa), cultured in the Municipality of Rivas Dávila of Mérida State, Venezuela. 

For the analysis, the SPE-HPLC-DAD method was used. Seven pesticides were detected: chlorpyrifos 8 mg.kg-1, diazinon 12 mg.kg-1, ethyl parathion 0.036 mg.kg-1, methamidophos 2.7 mg.kg-1, mancozeb 23 mg.kg-1, methomyl 1.2 mg.kg-1 and metribuzin 0.10 mg.kg-1; with the exception of ethyl parathion and metribuzin, all were above the maximum residue limit (MRL) established by the Alimentary Code and European Union. Methamidophos, chlorpyriphos and diazinon were found 270, 230 and 120 times above the MRL, with frequencies of detection of 70%, 90% and 70%, respectively; mancozeb was 2.3 times above the MRL, but it was detected in all the samples. 

The results indicate that the consumption of strawberry, produced in the Municipality of Rivas Dávila, could constitute an important way of pesticide exposure through diet, because the fresh product consumer is exposed to a mixture of pesticides that are noxious to human health, can act additively or synergistically on the organism.

Source: Benítez-Díaz, P.; Miranda-Contreras, L.; Balza-Quintero, A.; Sánchez-Gil, B.; Molina-Morales, Y. Bioagro 2015, 27(3): 181-188. Full study available @ http://www.ucla.edu.ve/bioagro/Rev27(3)/7.%20ms%201525.pdf