Pesticide residues in oranges from Valencia (Spain)

One hundred and fifty citrus samples from an agricultural co-operative of the Valencian Community (Spain) were analysed for pre- and post-harvest pesticide residues using high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Among the residues from post-harvest treatments, imazalil was detected in 112 (74.7%) samples at a mean level of 1.2mg/kg, thiabendazole in 21 (14.0%) samples at a mean level of 0.47mg/kg and carbendazim in 5 (3.3%) samples at a mean level of 1.05mg/kg. Among the residues from preharvest treatment, dicofol was detected in 28 (18.7%) samples at a mean level of 0.28mg/kg, chlorpyriphos in 19 (12.7%) samples at a mean level of 0.16mg/kg and endosulfan in 11 (7.3%) at a mean level of 0.27mg/kg. Most of the samples contained residues of various pesticides and six samples (4.0%) exceeded the European Union Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). The pesticides that surpassed the MRLs were chlorpyriphos in five samples and dicofol in one.