Extracting pesticide residual levels from plants

[DrCurry489]

Would anyone have any idea on how I could measure/test pesticide residual levels on plants, mainly fruits and vegetables and what methods I can use for this? Mainly about systemic pesticides that travel inside the cell.

[ameyab19]

Hi,

Sounds interesting, testing for systemic pesticides would generally use professional analytical chemistry labs/resources. I looked into the topic and found the below:

A common "gold standard" method is "QuEChERs" or Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe. This method detects contaminants like pesticides in environmental samples by crushing what you want to observe, then using solvents to pull pesticides out. Some helpful info here - https://www.quechers.eu/

ELISA immunoassays (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) might also be used, as this method uses antibodies to trace contaminants (e.g., herbicides). This study (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 3697001167) gives a more detailed overview.

I also came across enzymatic rapid test kits, which could be more accessible for your project. You would crush the sample of your produce then mix with a buffer for a test strip to change color depending on the amount of pesticide detected. More info here - https://clu-in.org/characterization/tec ... oassay.cfm

I'm not an analytical chemist, but the info above might help for general educational purposes! Definitely verify these details with a qualified science teacher, professional laboratory, etc., as you look into these methods.

Good luck and hope this helps!

- AB