The Results of Registration Trials of Pesticides for their Residual Amounts in Different Agricultural Crops in Belarus in 2011-2016

Mikhail Zayats, The Laboratory of Dynamics of Pesticides , RUE “Institute of Plant Protection”, a/c Priluki, Minsk distr., Republic of Belarus
Natalia Petrashkevich, The Laboratory of Dynamics of Pesticides , RUE “Institute of Plant Protection”, a/c Priluki, Minsk distr., Republic of Belarus
Pyotr Kislushko, The Laboratory of Dynamics of Pesticides , RUE “Institute of Plant Protection”, a/c Priluki, Minsk distr., Republic of Belarus
Sergey Soroka, Directorate, Rue “institute of Plant Protection”, A/C Priluki, Minsk Distr., Republic of Belarus
Marina Zayats, The Laboratory of Dynamics of Pesticides , RUE “Institute of Plant Protection”, a/c Priluki, Minsk distr., Republic of Belarus
Mariya Kivachitskaya, The Laboratory of Dynamics of Pesticides , RUE “Institute of Plant Protection”, a/c Priluki, Minsk distr., Republic of Belarus

The results of determination of 164 active ingredients (AI) of 388 pesticide formulations, that were under registration trials in Belarus in 2011-2016, are presented. The residues of 60 pesticide active ingredients were found in 42 matrices (commodities) of 24 crops from 86 matrices of 42 analyzed crops in 11.8% of cases (277) of the total number of analyzed samples (2345). The residual amounts of pesticides exceeded maximum residue levels (MRL) in 0.55% of cases (13). It should be noted that in 122 of 1022 samples of agricultural crops, for which MRLs have not been established, mainly in such matrices as whole plants, green mass, haulms, straw, ears, pods, etc., the amounts of pesticide residues were determined in the range from 0.0014 to 3.4 mg/kg.

The highest relative frequency of detection of pesticide residues (PR) in produce is characteristic for cucumbers, tomatoes and apples. It can be explained by the cultivation technologies of these crops, as well as carrying out of analyzes of production in dynamics in order to establish safety intervals from the time of the last treatment to the time of harvesting.

PR were determined often in green mass, straw and ears of cereals. Notably, that the content of PR is commonly higher in straw and ears, while grain is usually free from PR.

As to sugar beet, residual amounts of pesticides were mostly found in tops, while their content in roots didn’t exceed the MRLs ordinarily.

Trace amounts of pesticides were also found in oilseeds, but usually they didn’t exceed MRLs by the time of harvesting.

It was shown that adherence to recommended technologies of application of pesticides, their consumption rates, as well as exposure of safety intervals, ensures obtaining the crop safe for human health.