Pesticide residues in oranges from Valencia (Spain)

One hundred and fifty citrus samples from an agricultural co-operative of t he Valencian Community (Spain) were analysed for pre- and post-harvest pest icide residues using high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromat ography. Among the residues from post-harvest treatments, imazalil was dete cted in 112 (74.7%) samples at a mean level of 1.2 mg/kg, thiabendazole in 21 (14.0%) samples at a mean level of 0.47 mg/kg and carbendazim in 5 (3.3% ) samples at a mean level of 1.05 mg/kg. Among the residues from pre-harves t treatment, dicofol was detected in 28 (18.7%) samples at a mean level of 0.28 mg/kg, chlorpyriphos in 19 (12.7%) samples at a mean level of 0.16 mg/ kg and endosulfan in 11 (7.3%) at a mean level of 0.27 mg/kg. Most of the s amples contained residues of various pesticides and six samples (4.0%) exce eded the European Union Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). The pesticides that su rpassed the MRLs were chlorpyriphos in five samples and dicofol in one.