Removal of carbamate residues from leafy greens with water and detergent solutions

Abstract

Abstract The effect of water and mild and strong detergent washing solutions on the removal of manganese ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) (EBDC) fungicides and epicuticular wax in leafy greens was studied. The washing efficiency of the solutions was evaluated by measuring ethylene thi‐ourea (ETU) residue levels, a metabolite of EBDC in canned product. The strong detergent was more effective in removing EBDC residues than water or the mild detergent solution. Collard and spinach retained more carbamate residues in the field than the other greens. Spinach retained more residues than the other leafy greens, regardless of the washing treatment. With the exception of mustard, neither mild nor strong detergent removed significantly more epicuticular waxes in leafy greens than did water. The degree of detergency of washing solutions appears to be a more important factor in the removal of residues than in the removal of epicuticular waxes.