14C-Prochloraz residues in irradiated mangoes.
Costa M. A., Tornisielo V. L., Walder J. M. M.
Author Affiliation: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, USP, Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
Pesticidas - Revista de Ecotoxicologia e Meio Ambiente 11 : 105-114
Abstract : A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the prochloraz residual levels in mangoes, in pre- and postharvest radiation treatments. The fruits were submitted to gamma radiation (1.0 kGy), to verify if fungicide degradation was induced. Treated postharvest mangoes were stored at 12°C for 21 days. Prochloraz residues were not reduced after 21 days (safe period), established by the Brazilian legislation on agrochemicals. The refrigerated storage (12°C) and the gamma radiation also did not contribute to the degradation of the fungicide. Prochloraz was mainly retained in the peels (mean = 1.64 µg/g) which served as barrier to pulp (mean = 0.06 µg/g) contamination. The degradation product, formed in peels of the post-harvest treated mangoes was the metabolite BTS 44596. The metabolites, found in very low levels, confirm that low fungicide degradation occurs in mangoes.