Gyeonggi Health and Environment Research Institute "Pesticide Levels Exceed Standards in Durup, Meowi, and Naengi Distributed in the Province"

Excessive pesticide residues were detected in four types of spring vegetables distributed in Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment announced on the 28th that it conducted safety inspections for pesticide residues and radioactive substances on 149 samples of 19 types of spring vegetables distributed within the province, seizing and disposing of four spring vegetable samples that exceeded the allowable limits and requesting administrative actions from relevant authorities.

The inspection was conducted over three weeks from February 26 to March 15 by collecting spring vegetables such as shepherd's purse, wild chives, and spring cabbage distributed in large supermarkets, public agricultural wholesale markets, and local food stores within the province. The inspection items included 339 types of pesticide residues and radioactive substances iodine (I-131) and cesium (Cs-134, Cs-137).

Residual Pesticide Testing

The inspection results showed that ▲ in durup, the fungicide component carbendazim (standard 0.01mg/kg, detected amount 0.38mg/kg) ▲ in meowi, the herbicide component pendimethalin (standard 0.05mg/kg, detected amount 0.08mg/kg) and the insecticide component cadusafos (standard 0.05mg/kg, detected amount 1.48mg/kg) ▲ in shepherd's purse, the herbicide component dicyclobenzyl (standard 0.01mg/kg, detected amount 0.02mg/kg) exceeded the standard limits. Radioactive substances were not detected in any of the inspected agricultural products.

An official from the Provincial Institute of Health and Environment stated, "We are conducting the Agricultural Product Safety Keeper project, which focuses on intensive inspections of agricultural products according to shipment periods," and added, "Although most pesticide residues are decomposed during washing and heat cooking processes, due to the high concerns of residents about harmful substances, we will continue to conduct prompt and consistent safety management to ensure the safety of agricultural products and the health of residents."