Evaluation of factors affecting pesticide residue levels in Japanese raw agricultural commodities^#

Abstract

To evaluate the various factors affecting pesticide residue levels in Japanese raw agricultural commodities (RACs), acetamiprid and cypermethrin residues in apple, broccoli, cabbage, grape, and sweet pepper samples were investigated. The individual variations of pesticide residue levels in apples were greater than other factors, such as field-to-field variations and separate analyses of edible and inedible portions. The results from various RACs indicate that differences in the distributions of the two pesticides might be due to the influence of various factors, such as differences in crop species, plant cultivation methods, and physicochemical properties of the pesticides. The statistical results indicate that a sufficient sampling size is required to obtain accurate analytical results. This study provided valuable information on estimating variations in pesticide residue levels in RACs in accordance with Japanese common agricultural practices.