Pesticides Residue Analysis in Potato Produced in Iraq from Selected Markets Across Basrah Province

Abstract

  The purpose of this study was intended to reveal of the types of pesticide residues pre-sent and measure their levels in samples of nationally produced potatoes in Iraq by ex-tracting them according to the QuEChERS method for the first time in Basrah province and diagnose them by using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS), then evaluate and discuss the human health implications as a result of the presence of such residues. Thirty-six potato samples were collected from the main local markets in Basrah throughout 2020 year, an average of three collections per month. The current study revealed that the contamination of pesticides residue of produced potatoes in Iraq during the year 2020 is not a cause for concern, as 91.6% of the studied samples after extraction and diagnosis did not contain any residues that could be mentioned or detected, while only three samples contained residues, these were largely owing to Methane, isocyanato- residues in potatoes (8.3 %, 3 samples). According to the study results, Methane, isocyanato- was the sole chemical compound found in potatoes and belonged to pesticides residue groups. For the time being, we can say that Iraqi pota-toes are almost free of pesticides residue and can be considered a healthy food product that poses no hazard to human health; this indicates that our farmers are highly com-mitted to use safe and appropriate pesticides and adhering to the recommended safety period; this trend would benefit both humanity and the environment.