MONITORING OF DITHIOCARBAMATE (EBDC) RESIDUES IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THROUGHOUT 1995-1999 AND ESTIMATION OF THEIR DAILY INTAKES IN EGYPT

A total of 1414 samples of common commodities were collected from eight Egyptian local markets located in 6 Governorates throughout 1995-1999. The results showed that 89.1% of the samples had no de­tectable dithiocarbamate residues. 10.9% contained detectable residues from which 0.28% exceeded their MRL's. The effect of home processing on EBDC residues detected on and in treated samples of tomato, cucum­ber and eggplant was also studied. The data demonstrated that cooking of unseived tomato juice from washed raw tomatoes is the most effec­tive process; since it removed 77.8% of the detected EBDC residues. Peeling after washing cucumber was the most effective process in re­moving EBDC because it removed almost all residues. Frying of peeled-washed eggplant is expected to reduce most of EBDC residues. Daily in­take of dithiocabamates was also studied considering the results of mon­itoring of pesticides residues in different fruits and vegetables. The ob­tained results revealed that the estimated daily intake (EDIs) for EBDC 's resulting from vegetables, cooked vegetables and fruits was 1.44ug / person / day representing 4.8 % of its ADI.