Pesticide Residue Detection Status, Problems and Suggestions

Vegetables are an indispensable food in human life, and their types are quite extensive. However, with the widespread use of pesticides in the 1980s, pesticide residues in vegetables have become increasingly prominent. In particular, after solving the problem of food and clothing in recent years, the masses have paid more and more attention to the issue of food safety. Nowadays, many people are worried that pesticides in vegetables that they eat daily will exceed their standards, causing harm to the body and even causing illness or disability. However, according to the data detected by the pesticide disability testing center and the townships and street inspection stations in our district, the qualified rate of vegetable pesticide residue testing reached more than 99%. In order to better solve the doubts of the masses and do a good job in vegetable pesticide residue testing, we will now conduct a simple observation and analysis on the detection of vegetable pesticide residues in our district.

I. Concepts and hazards of pesticide residues in vegetables

Pesticide residue is a phenomenon in which part of pesticides directly or indirectly remains in grains, vegetables, fruits, and soil and water bodies after pesticides are applied in agricultural production. Some of the currently used pesticides can be biodegraded into harmless materials in a relatively short period of time, while some organochlorine pesticides are difficult to degrade and are highly residual pesticides. Excessive pesticide residues in vegetables will directly endanger the body's nervous system and liver, kidney and other important organs. Because pesticide residues are harmful to humans and organisms, all countries apply strict management of pesticides and regulate the tolerance of pesticide residues in foods. At present, the annual dosage of pesticides in China is 80-100 million tons, ranking first in the world. When pesticide residues reach a certain amount in the human body, acute poisoning, death, etc. may result. Subacute poisoning: carcinogenic, teratogenic, genetic mutations, damage to the body's vital organs. Chronic poisoning, chronic poisoning effects include nerves, physiology, biochemistry, blood, immunity and pathology. Endanger the growth and development of adolescents and children and affect the normal development of the fetus. Causes nervous system disorders, disrupts the physiological functions of human organs, endocrine disorders, causing menstrual disorders in women and various facial scars. Caused various diseases in the elderly.

Second, the regulatory status and existing problems of pesticide residues in vegetables in China

There are eleven townships and streets in our district, with a land of 420,000 mu and a population of 460,000. It can produce 330,000 tons of vegetables and fruits each year. Each township and street has vegetable growers, professional cooperatives, companies and family farms. At present, there is a district pesticide residue testing center and 11 pesticide residue testing stations (one in each township and street). All testing equipments are rapid-testing qualitative detection instruments. Each year, the district's pesticide residue testing center has a testing task of 2000 samples, and each township and street has 200 samples.

There is a problem

There are misunderstandings about pesticide residues. Many people think that any vegetable that has used pesticides has a certain amount of residual pesticide and cannot be eaten. In order to be edible, the water is repeatedly used for washing, and some even wash away the edible skins, and some vegetables are soaked in water for up to half an hour, or even one hour. Only in this way can the pesticides left on the vegetables be washed before they are edible; in addition, some people only buy vegetables that have eaten vegetables and eat them. They think that such vegetables are not used pesticides and must be safe.

Lack of complete pesticide residue detection system. At present, there is no perfect pesticide residue detection and certification system in China. Although there are many detection methods on the market, such as: enzyme inhibition method, chromatography detection method. However, the standards for identification among different methods are not the same, the accuracy of detection varies greatly, and the types of pesticides that can be detected are also different. For example, the enzyme inhibition method can only detect organic phosphorus and carbamate, and can not detect organic chlorine and Pyrethroids. Some detection instruments can only perform qualitative tests and cannot perform quantitative tests, resulting in poor quality of safety and safety. Another problem is that testing organizations are basically affiliated with the real third-party testing agencies or intermediary agencies of various administrative agencies engaged in vegetable pesticide residue testing, and limited by the factors of funds and technical forces, the general development is slow, authoritative Poor sex.

Testing agency is not perfect. 1. At present, the testing organization in our district is affiliated with the agricultural sector. It is not an independent agency or a third-party testing agency. In the absence of a complete pesticide residue detection system, certification bodies cannot be qualified. 2. Employees are also drawn from various agricultural departments. There is no systematic understanding and study of knowledge related to pesticide residue detection. 3. The testing equipment is of the rapid test type and can only be qualitatively tested and cannot be quantitatively tested. This also caused some varieties of pesticides to be detected. Pesticide residue detection generally involves more specialized technical knowledge, such as understanding of techniques such as enzyme-linked immunoassay, PCR, fluorescent imprinting, and DNA extraction and preparation. At present, China's pesticide residue monitoring and testing agencies have a low overall level of personnel, less work experience, and limited opportunities for learning and communication, which directly affects the efficiency of food safety inspection teams in China.

The supervision and management of pesticide residues in vegetables is confusing and the responsibilities are unclear. The supervision of pesticide residues in vegetables falls under the joint supervision of various departments such as agriculture, quality supervision, health, and industry and commerce, and many management departments have not played the advantages of multi-sector linkage. On the contrary, the crux of the problem has appeared in multi-headed supervision. Another problem is that the standards for the detection of pesticide residues in vegetables in our country are "externally different" standards. This is mainly reflected in the high demand for export of vegetable products and the low requirement for domestic sales.

The government has not paid enough attention to it. With economic indicators as the main assessment targets, some leading cadres have paid less attention to this work. First of all, pesticide residue detection is a work that can not directly produce economic benefits; secondly, this work also requires capital and personnel input, especially for more accurate quantitative testing, but also requires a lot of capital investment. Some even squeezed inspection expenses.

The farmers’ sense of security is weak and their overall quality is low. The production of vegetables in China is relatively scattered, and farmers engaged in individual agriculture can not be effectively guided and monitored in terms of pest control and scientific use of pesticides. In order to pursue economic interests, some farmers cannot use pesticides scientifically and rationally. This will inevitably lead to a vicious circle of unbalanced vegetable ecosystems, increased resistance to pests and diseases, and high residual pesticide contamination.

Without a law enforcement team, individuals and organizations that illegally use and sell vegetables with pesticide residues exceeding the standard cannot be punished accordingly. China currently lacks a dedicated professional team on pesticide residue management and has not yet established a reasonable standard system for pesticide residue management. Due to lack of personnel, the residue monitoring system is not sound enough, which leads to no law enforcement, resulting in the inability to use and sell illegally. Individuals and units whose vegetables exceed the pesticide residue are punished accordingly. They still go their own way and the phenomenon of uncontrolled pesticide application cannot be effectively controlled.

Third, the proposal

Strengthen publicity and relieve people's misunderstanding of pesticide residues. Pesticide residues exist objectively, but they are not irresolvable. First of all, pesticides used in agricultural production are now low-toxicity, degradable pesticides, and all pesticides have a safety interval (safety interval: refers to the last application to grazing, harvesting (harvest), use, The period before the consumption of crops, from the time after spraying to the time required for the residue to fall below the maximum allowable residue). The vegetables that are picked and listed after the safety interval have reached the standard for safe food and have minimal harm to the human body. Secondly, on the purchase choices, try to select the vegetables that have “three products” certification. These vegetables have passed the relevant department inspection. It is determined that there are strict standards in the selection and use of pesticides, picking, and marketing; once again, after the purchase of vegetables, the following methods can be used to remove pesticide residues: 1 Soaking. This is also the method used by many people. So how long it is appropriate to soak it? In general, soak for 10 minutes, after soaking and then rinse with water better; 2 peeled. Peelable vegetables can use this method; 3 Properly extend the time of high-temperature cooking. The pesticides used today will accelerate degradation under high temperature conditions. Therefore, the appropriate lengthening of the cooking time will degrade most of the residual pesticides to non-toxic substances, thereby achieving the standard of safe food.

Improve the pesticide residue detection system and strengthen the testing organization. First of all, it is recommended that the relevant national departments formulate relevant standards systems, quickly study and formulate plans to establish a pesticide residue monitoring system in line with China's national conditions; second, set up an independent testing agency with professional and full-time inspection personnel, or allow the establishment of third-party institutions for independent testing . Taking the monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetable bases as the focus, we actively carried out inspections of pesticide residues in the vegetable market; again equipped with higher standards of testing equipment and related conditions. Only with the support of a complete system, combining professional and full-time personnel with high-standard equipment, can the pesticide residue detection work be conducted in an orderly and effective manner. In view of the fact that China's current pesticide residue monitoring system is not perfect, and the management of excessive residue levels is not enough, we should step up research and formulate a plan for establishing a pesticide residue monitoring system that meets China's national conditions, and establish a sound pesticide monitoring system for vegetables and other agricultural products as soon as possible. At the same time, we will speed up the construction of a pesticide residue standard system, study and formulate standards for pesticide residues in agricultural products that are in line with international standards, expand opening to the outside world, increase the competitiveness of China's agricultural products in the international market, and promote the healthy development of agricultural products import and export trade. We must focus on the monitoring of pesticide residue in the wholesale market of vegetables, and actively carry out inspections of pesticide residues in the vegetable market. Strengthen the brand awareness of vegetable producers and sellers, increase the reputation of vegetable production bases and wholesale markets, and create an atmosphere where the entire society pays attention to the quality and safety of pesticide products, and promotes the improvement of the quality and safety of vegetables. At present, many large and medium-sized cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Jinan, and Suzhou, have set up a vegetable pesticide testing center and began to carry out residue testing on vegetables on the wholesale market to ensure that the people eat “safe food”. .

Strengthen training and improve the quality of vegetable farmers. Some developed countries attach great importance to the training of farmers. The French Ministry of Agriculture and local governments have plant protection agencies whose mission is to publicize education, teach plant protection technology, and increase farmers' awareness of environmental protection, the concept of the legal system, and the quality of plant protection technology. Can also draw lessons from the Swiss experience. In Switzerland, a plant protection training system was established in 1990. Only after three days of lectures and professional examinations were passed, qualified applicants issued a certificate of plant protection personnel. The plant protector certificate is valid for 5 years and will be re-assessed upon maturity. Farmers who do not hold a plant protection officer certificate are not allowed to purchase pesticides and plant protection machinery. China should strengthen technical training and popularization work for vegetable farmers and take effective measures to publicize, guide, and supervise farmers to scientifically and reasonably use pesticides, strictly implement the national standards for the safe and rational use of pesticides, and resolutely put an end to melons and fruits. Use highly toxic pesticides on vegetables.

Establish a quality traceability system. The quality and safety of agricultural products runs through the entire supply chain from the field to the table, including production, processing, circulation, and consumption. Externalities, market asymmetries caused by information asymmetries and irrelevance of responsibilities between all links are important reasons for the quality and safety of agricultural products. In accordance with the traceability system for agricultural product quality and safety, producers and operators must record the production process information such as sowing information, fertility information, pesticide application information, irrigation information, harvesting information, pesticide residue detection information, and sales information. That is to make a complete file for each vegetable. The traceability system of agricultural product quality and safety runs through the entire chain of agricultural products. It can effectively solve the problem of information asymmetry between various links, and establish the quality information exchange mechanism and the potential punishment mechanism of quality and safety responsibility in all aspects. Therefore, establishing a traceability system for quality and safety of agricultural products is conducive to the recall of quality agricultural products, the accountability of agricultural product quality and safety incidents, and thus the protection of the quality and safety of agricultural products. This is an important part of constructing a quality and safety system for agricultural products.

Strengthen the management of the source of agricultural products and raise the level of standardization of industrialization To achieve the supervision of every aspect of the entire production process of agricultural products, the quality control of the source of production of agricultural products is the most difficult part. Our district should strengthen the cultivation of industrialized organizations, improve the organization of food production and operation of agricultural products, establish a link mechanism and constraint mechanism for the interests of producers and operators, and promote the standardized production, industrialized management and standardized management of agricultural products quality. Incubate the vector. If the source chain can not provide accurate and timely information on the production of agricultural products, it will greatly affect the credibility of follow-up information. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the source management of agricultural product quality, organize the loose farmers and realize the industrialization of agricultural production. standardization.