EVALUATION OF TURMERIC WATER AND SALT WATER IN REDUCING IMIDACLOPRID RESIDUE IN CAPSICUM ANNUUM

In today’s world, exposure to toxins—especially pesticides—has become inevitable due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increased agricultural demand. According to the World Health Organization, about 3,000,000 cases of pesticide poisoning and 220,000 deaths are reported annually in developing countries.[1] Human beings, especially infants and children, are more vulnerable to the deleterious effects of pesticides due to their non-specific nature and inadequate application.[2] Pesticide exposure may result in chronic or acute poisoning Synthetic pesticides like Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid, are widely used for crop protection but accumulate in plant tissues, including commonly consumed vegetables such as Capsicum annuum. Imidacloprid breakdown products—for instance, desnitro-imidacloprid—have a high affinity for mammalian nAChRs and are known to be highly toxic to mice.[3] These metabolites can be formed either in a mammal’s body during metabolism or in the environment.[4] Imidacloprid has a strong potential to persist in the environment, breaking down into various compounds and accumulating in water, soil, air, and plant residues, making it one of the most concerning pesticides for ecological and human health. Chronic exposure to such residues can lead to cumulative toxicity in humans, resembling long-term nicotine poisoning.