Sains Malaysiana 50(10)(2021): 2937-2944

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5010-08

 

Distribution of Pesticides in Different Commonly Grown Vegetables of Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

(Penyebaran Racun Makhluk Perosak pada Sayuran Sepunya yang Ditanam Berbeza di Tanah Tinggi Cameron, Pahang, Malaysia)

 

NUSRAT MUNAWAR1, YANG FARINA2,3*, MOHAMMAD YAQOOB4, ABDUL NABI4 & SYED MUNAWAR SHAH5

 

1Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta, Pakistan

 

2Centre for Water Research and Analysis (ALIR), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

3Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

4Department of Chemistry, University of Balochistan, 87300 Quetta, Pakistan

 

5Faculty of Management Sciences, BUITEMS University, City Campus, Quetta, Pakistan

 

Received: 22 October 2020/Accepted: 21 February 2021

 

ABSTRACT

Gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) is used to extract and analyse pesticides in vegetable samples collected from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. The limit of detection (LOD) for all pesticides was in the range of 0.03 to 4.5 ng g-1. Recoveries in cabbage, lettuce, and celery ranged from 61.8%-121%, 60-128% and 60%-114%, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged 0.2-15% in cabbage, 0.5-18% in lettuce and 3-19.8% in celery. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) concentrations increased down the valley with dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) having the highest concentration at 233 µg kg-1. Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) were found to be dispersed throughout the valley, with the highest concentration of parathion ethyl (133 µg   kg-1) whereas the pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) concentrations were comparatively less. The detection frequency in the wet season was highest (5 < - < 100 µg kg-1) for most pesticides. However, in the dry season the pesticides concentrations were higher, at < 5 µg kg-1. PCA analysis indicated that farmers were using a mixture of pesticides.

 

Keywords: Gas chromatography; health risk; pesticides; vegetables

 

ABSTRAK

Gas kromatografi-pengimbas penangkap elektron (GC-ECD) digunakan untuk mengekstrak dan menganalisis sampel sayur dari Tanah Tinggi Cameron, Pahang, Malaysia. Had pengesanan (LOD) untuk semua pestisid berada dalam lingkungan 0.03 hingga 4.5 ng g-1. Perolehan semula bagi kobis, daun salad dan seleri masing-masing berada dalam lingkungan 61.8%-121%, 60%-128% dan 60%-114%. Sisihan piawai relatif (RSD) adalah 0.2-15% dalam kobis, 0.5-18% dalam daun salad dan 3-19.8% dalam seleri. Kepekatan pestisid organoklorin (OCPs) bertambah apabila turun ke lembah dan diklorodifenildikloroetilena (DDE) mempunyai kepekatan tertinggi pada 233 µg kg-1. Pestisid organofosforus (OPPs) tersebar di sekitar lembah dan paration etil mempunyai kepekatan tertinggi (133 µg kg-1) manakala kepekatan pestisid piritroid (PYRs) sangat kurang. Frekuensi pengesanan pada musim tengkujuh adalah tertinggi (5 < - < 100 µg kg-1) untuk semua jenis pestisid. Manakala untuk musim kering, kepekatan pestisid lebh tinggi pada kepekatan < 5 µg kg-1. Analisis PCA menunjukkan bahawa petani menggunakan campuran pelbagai pestisid.

 

Kata kunci: Kromatografi gas; racun perosak; risiko kesihatan; sayur-sayuran

 

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*Corresponding author; email: farina@ukm.edu.my

   

 

 

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