Pesticide residues in agricultural products monitored in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, FYs 1995-1999.

During a 5-year monitoring survey (April 1995-March 2000) of pesticide residues in agricultural products, 765 samples (478 domestic; 287 imported) collected in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, were analyzed. The number of pesticides tested increased from 107 in fiscal year (FY) 1995 to 204 in FY 1999. The purpose of the study was to promote consumer safety by excluding the food illegally containing pesticide residues from markets. Overall, 51 % of domestic and 32% of imported samples contained no detectable residues. Multiple residues were detected in 152 (32%) of domestic and 146 (51%) of imported samples. The limit of quantitation was set at 0.01 microg/g and the limit of detection was 0.001 microg/g. Most of the residues were present at low concentrations; 70% of detections in domestic samples were <0.05 microg/g, and 97% were <0.5 microg/g. Although 86% of antifungal agent residues in imported citrus fruits were > or = 0.1 microg/g, 59% of the other residues in imported samples were <0.05 microg/g, and 96% were <0.5 microg/g. Violations of maximum residue limits (MRL) were observed in 3 samples: diazinon in chrysanthemums, dieldrin in cucumbers, and bitertanol in bananas. Of the detectable residues above 0.01 microg/g, 55% in domestic and 38% in imported samples were <10% of the MRL. Of all the samples, 2.4% contained more than 5 different pesticides; tomatoes, strawberries, apples, and citrus fruits tended to have more multiple residues.