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10. A study of Insecticides & Pesticides Pollution of Food stuffs & their toxic effect on man

The project was completed by Punjabi University, Patiala 1998 to study the degradation time and temperature effects in food material exposed to insecticides and pesticides and identify their quantities in such material. A survey was conducted to collect information about the insecticides and pesticides used in the districts of Punjab. On the basis of this information various fruits and vegetables sprayed with these insecticides were tested qualitatively at different time intervals (to check the time of complete degradation of the insecticides sprayed) by TLC, spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. In addition to this various vegetables and fruits were mixed with specific quantities of insecticides and studied at different temperatures to check the time of complete loss of insecticides. The study recommends that there should be atleast 10 days gap between the last application of pesticides on a crop and its harvesting. Further, all food and fruit processing industries should ensure washing of food material with hot water before processing. Guidelines in this regard need to be issued to food processing industry by the appropriate agency. The study also recommends that DDT and BHC need to be banned in public health programmes also as their residues have been obtained in human blood and milk samples. The study further recommends that all food processing and testing laboratories should use GLC and spectrophotometry only for detection of pesticides and insecticides in food stuffs.

The data generated in the project has been used in the "Punjab Environment Status Report-1995" published by PSCST. The information has also been disseminated to food and drug laboratories, forensic science department, Deptt. of Agriculture, Distt. Agricultural Authorities and NGOs for use in field.

Contact Person: Dr. Neelima Jerath, neelimajerath@pscst.com