Determination of Pesticides Residue by GC-ECD in Vegetables from Cameron Highlands, Malaysia and Their Human Health Risk Assessment

Gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) method has been developed to determine the residues of pyrethroid (PYRs), organophosphorus (OPPs) and organochlorine (OCPs) pesticide in 97 leafy vegetable samples collected from Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The mean residual concentration of PYRs, OPPs and OCPs ranged from 0.04–17, 0.03–44.4 and 0.03–100 μg kg–1 respectively. The sum of pesticides concentration increased in the order mustard < spinach < celery < cauliflower < lettuce < broccoli < cabbage. The results revealed that levels of maximum residue limit (MRL) for OCPs were violated by lettuce (7.7%), for OPPs, it exceeded mostly in cabbage (24.8%) and for PYRs only one cabbage sample exceeded the MRL. Health risk estimation revealed that hazard quotients (HQs) for OCPs, OPPs and PYRs were <1.0, showing less risk to consumers. However, the hazard indices (HIs) for OPPs were >1.0 for children (1.4) and for adults (0.4) which signify the potential health risk to consumers.