Monitoring of pesticide residues in some vegetables from locally markets in Gharbia governorate

Pesticide residues on vegetables are one of the biggest concerns for consumers who need assurance about food safety. The aim of this study was to assess the level of pesticide contamination in several commonly con-sumed local horticultural products, including tomatoes, onions, potatoes, spinach, and peppers, in Gharbia Gov-ernorate, Egypt . Approximately 175 horticultural plant samples were analyzed using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method, followed by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Out of the total 175samples analyzed, 39 samples (22.28%) were free of pesticide residues, 136 samples (77.72%) were contam-inated. Among the 136 contaminated samples, 45 samples (33.08%) contaminated sample exceeded the maxi-mum residue limits (MRLs). The most commonly detected pesticides were chlorantraniliprole, chlorpyrifos, cyprodinil, metalaxyl, azoxystrobin, chlorfenapyr, imazalil, chlorpropham, acetamiprid, flutolanil, indoxacarb, imidacloprid, and lambda-cyhalothrin. Farmers should also look for other alternative methods of pest control. Consumers should be careful about processing and preparation steps such as washing and peeling to reduce the risk of pesticide residues in fresh produce.