Pesticide residues persistence

Egan H, Holmes DC, Roburn J, et al. 1966. Pesticide residues in foodstuffs in Great Britain II. Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in selected foods. J Sci Food Agric 17 563-569. 

Frank R, Braun HE, Ishida K, et al. 1976. Persistent organic and inorgaiuc pesticide residues in orchard soils and vineyards of Southern Ontario. Can J Soil Sci 56 463-484. 

Redondo, M.J., M.J. Ruiz, R. Boluda, and G. Font (1994). Persistence of pesticide residues in orchard soil. Sci. Total Environ., 156 199-205. 

Ruangwises, S., Ruangwises, N., Tabucanon, M.S., 1994. Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in green mussels (Perna viridis) from the Gulf of Thailand. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 28, 351-355. 

As an example of differences in soil residue persistence between the organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, parathion and malathion residues were present at the 0.1 p.p.m. level within 8 days of application whereas aldrin [according to Lichtenstein (23)] when applied at the same concentration, persisted 5 months longer as did aldrin and dieldrin at 40% of the applied dosage. Decker et al. (12) report that aldrin and dieldrin residues in soils never exceeded 13.2% of the total applied when tested one year after the last application. Other workers (24) have reported that on a loamy soil, under existing weather conditions, aldrin and dieldrin residues were present at a level of approximately 20% of the total applied insecticidal dosage over a 5-year period. 

In summary, an endeavor has been made to cover briefly the effect of several pesticides in our total environment, from the food we consume and the soil in which it is grown to the water we drink and fish in and even to the air we breathe. Of course, with a subject as broad as this, only a small fraction of the actual research conducted in this general area could be cited. Obviously, the fate and persistence of pesticides in our total environment are highly complex and worthy of our continued surveillance. However, we should always keep this problem of pesticide contamination of our environment in its proper perspective. Even though trace quantities of pesticide residues are found in our water, fish, milk, etc., and perhaps somewhat higher concentrations are found in some vegetables and fruit we may consume, there is no reason for unwarranted alarm. When pesticides are used properly, the concentration of residues reported are almost always far below levels judged hazardous to health... 

Generally, pesticide residues will occur in the top 6 in. of the soil, which is also the region of greatest activity of soil fauna and flora. Thus, pesticides deposited in the soil are subject to various influences that affect their persistence in the environment. These include (1) soil type, (2) nature of the pesticide, (3) soil moisture, (4) soil pH, (5) soil temperature, and (6) microbial degradation of pesticides. 

Ebeling, W. (1963). Analysis of the basic processes involved in the deposition, degradation, persistence and effectiveness of pesticides. Residue Rev., 3, 35-163. 

The persistence of a pesticide residue will depend on its physico-chemical properties. Volatility, water solubility, reactivity and biodegradability are properties that govern the longevity and mobility of a compound in the environment. However,... 

Pesticide residues are the most common agricultural chemicals that contaminate oils and they are almost inevitable. Although edible oils are secondary products derived from the processing of crops, there will be some carryover of pesticide residues into the oil. In 1995, a list of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were published (20). They were classified as (1) chlorinated pesticides, such as aldrin and DDT, and other industrial chemicals, such as hexachlorobenzene and... 

Today s milk processors demand milk free of antibiotics to meet consumer demands of food safety and avoid potential litigation involving product liability. As a final safeguard, the FDA also spot-checks milk and institutes legal action if a violation is found. This costs money to the offending producer and thus is another incentive to ensure clean milk. In fact, the FDA monitors milk for the same pesticide residues as they do for produce (see Chapter 3 for discussion and sources). Some studies indicate that milk is the source of trace levels of the fat-soluble pesticides that persist in our environment and thus may... 

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