Gyeonggi Health and Environment Research Institute Detects Excess Residual Pesticides in Three Spring Wild Vegetables Including Dandelion

Researchers affiliated with the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment are collecting samples to test spring vegetables distributed in the market.

Residual pesticides exceeding the standard levels were detected in spring vegetables distributed in Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 2nd that in a recent "Residual Pesticide and Radioactive Material Safety Inspection" of spring vegetables distributed within the province, residual pesticides exceeding the standard levels were detected in three cases: ssuk (Artemisia), dolnamul (stonecrop), and dandelion.

This inspection targeted 215 samples of 19 spring vegetable items distributed through public agricultural and marine products wholesale markets and large retail stores, which are key distribution points for spring vegetables.

As a result of the inspection, pendimethalin, a herbicide component, was detected at 0.03 mg/kg (standard 0.01 mg/kg) in one ssuk sample; prothioconazole, a fungicide component, was detected at 0.4 mg/kg (standard 0.2 mg/kg) in one dolnamul sample; and terbufos, an insecticide component, was detected at 0.10 mg/kg (standard 0.01 mg/kg) in one dandelion sample, each exceeding the respective standard limits.

The Provincial Institute of Health and Environment seized and disposed of the affected agricultural products and took administrative action through relevant agencies.

In addition, iodine and cesium, radioactive materials, were not detected in 24 other samples.

This inspection was conducted as the first project of the "Agricultural Product Safety Keeper," which focuses on specific themes by period for intensive inspection at on-site inspection offices within the Suwon, Guri, Anyang, and Ansan agricultural and marine products wholesale markets.

A representative of the Provincial Institute of Health and Environment stated, "Most residual pesticides decompose during washing and heat cooking processes, but since residents have significant concerns about harmful substances, we will do our best to ensure food safety by strengthening inspections of harmful substances in agricultural products by period and item."