title: Food safety in Thailand. 3: Pesticide residues detected in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), queen of fruits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For developing countries like Thailand, regulation of pesticide usage exists, but it is not fully enforced. Therefore, pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits have not been well monitored. This study aimed to determine the pesticide residues in mangosteen fruits sold in Thailand. The mangosteen samples (n = 111) were purchased and the contents of 28 pesticides were analysed by GC-MS/MS method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the pesticides tested, eight were found in 100% of the mangosteen samples. However, in 97% of these samples, either chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dimethoate, metalaxyl or profenofos was detected exceeding their maximum residue limits (MRLs), representing a 97% rate of pesticide detection above the MRL. This rate is much higher than those found in other fruits sold in developed countries. However, this conclusion excludes the fresh Thai mangosteens grown for export, as these are generally cultivated and harvested to GAP standards. Since the edible part of the mangosteen is the pulp, washing the fruits with running water can reduce the risk of pesticide residues contaminating the pulp which would be eaten by the consumer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings strongly suggest that routine monitoring of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables is required to reduce the health risks associated with consuming contaminated food. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.|Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kamonrat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phopin
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sompon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanwimolruk
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
authors.forename: Virapong
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prachayasittikul
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D053000:Analytic Sample Preparation Methods; D002235:Carbofuran / Q000032:analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D004117:Dimethoate / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005511:Food Handling; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D029762:Garcinia mangostana / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D057230:Limit of Detection; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013499:Surface Properties; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides; C028175:metalaxyl; D000409:Alanine; D002235:Carbofuran; D004117:Dimethoate
keywords: food safety; fruits; mangosteen; pesticide residues; pesticides