Pesticide residues in some herbs growing in agricultural areas in Poland
Environ Monit Assess
Pesticide residues in some herbs growing in agricultural areas in Poland
Elżbieta Malinowska 0
Kazimierz Jankowski 0
0 E. Malinowska (
The aim of this paper was to assess residue content of plant protection products in selected herbs: Achillea millefolium L., Cichorium intybus L., Equisetum arvense L., Polygonum persicaria L., Plantago lanceolata L., and Plantago major L. The study comprises herbs growing in their natural habitat, 1 and 10 m away from crop fields. The herbs, 30 plants of each species, were sampled during the flowering stage between 1 and 20 July 2014. Pesticide residue content was measured with the QuECHERS method in the dry matter of leaves, stalks, and inflorescence, all mixed together. Out of six herb species growing close to wheat and maize fields, pesticide residues were found in three species: A. millefolium L., E. arvense L., and P. lanceolata L. Most plants containing the residues grew 1 m away from the wheat field. Two active substances of fungicides were found: diphenylamine and tebuconazole, and one active substance of insecticides: chlorpyrifos-ethyl. Those substances are illegal to use on herbal plants. Samples of E. arvense L. and P. lanceolata L. contained two active substances each, which constituted 10 % of all samples, while A. millefolium L. contained one substance, which is 6.6 % of all samples.
Selected herbs; The QuECHERS method; Plant protection product residues; Poland
Introduction
The use of plant protection products in agriculture
results in economic benefits but can be hazardous to the
environment, in particular to people and animals
(Diez
et al. 2006; Łozowicka 2009)
. Pesticides belong to
substances which are the most toxic and are persistent;
they do not break down easily, have ability to
bioaccumulate, and can be mobile in the environment.
They can also become mutagenic, carcinogenic,
teratogenic, and allergenic. Pesticides can enter an organism
through the digestive system, and even small amounts
can be harmful if their intake lasts longer
(Kroes et al.
2000; Gorrido et al. 2003)
. Human food and livestock
feed should not contain pesticide residues over the
maximum residue limits (MRL). The Polish law setting such
maximum residue limits in foods has been in force since
1993. Maximum residue limits were unified in all EU
member states by Commission Regulation (EC) No
839/2008 of 31 July 2008 (Polish Committee for
Standardization 2008). The regulation ensures food
safety for all consumers and contributes to more
intensive international trade. Because of the promotion of
healthy lifestyle, detailed monitoring of pesticide
residues should include not only fruit and vegetables but
also herbs growing in their natural habitat. Pesticide
residues monitoring should comprise more and more
active substances and foodstuff
(Bhanti and Taneja
2005; Wang et al. 2008)
. In Poland, herb plants are
grown on over 20,000 farms, with an area, depending
on the species grown, between 0.5 and 2.5 ha and
sometimes even between 6 and 10 ha. It means that
Poland is one of the leading herb-growing countries in
Europe. In Poland, 60 herb species are grown in fields
and about 130 species of herb plants grow in their
natural habitat.
The aim of this paper is to measure residue
concentration of plant protection products in selected herb
plants, important in cosmetic, food, and medicine
production: Achillea millefolium L., Cichorium
intybus L., Equisetum arvense L., Polygonum
persicaria L., Plantago lanceolata L., and
Plantago major L., all of them growing in their
natural habitat close to crop fields.
Materials and methods
The research material included six species of herbs
(A. millefolium L., C. intybus L., E. arvense L.,
P. persicaria L., P. lanceolata L., P. major L.)
sampled 1 and 10 m away from the edges of the winter
wheat field and the maize field. The plants came from
farms located in the Skórzec commune, the County of
Siedlce, in east-central Poland (Fig. 1). Those crops
were not grown in an organic farming, but according
to recommendations, not only both mineral and
organic fertilizers but also plant protection products
were used for growing them. The farmers followed
the directives on the Council of the European
Commission concerning protection of waters against
pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources,
like manure, chemicals, or fertilizers
(Council
Directive 1991; Regulation of the Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development 2010)
. Between
1 and 20 July 2014, during the flowering stage, herb
plants were harvested, with 30 samples of each
species gathered. There were five plants in each
sample, which was about 200–300 g DM. The plants,
leaves, stalks, and inflorescence were dried at the
temperature of 105 °C and ground, pesticide residues
being determined with the QuECHERS method. The
extraction methods of pesticide residues in herb plants
are described by Słowik-Borowiec et al. (2012, 2013).
This method was used according t (...truncated)