PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD - 1984


    Sponsored jointly by FAO and WHO






    EVALUATIONS 1984




    The monographs



    Data and recommendations of the joint meeting
    of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues
    in Food and the Environment and the
    WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues
    Rome, 24 September - 3 October 1984

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
    Rome 1985

    PARATHION-METHYL

    Explanation

         The CCPR, at its Fourteenth Session, asked the JMPR to reconsider
    the definition of the residue, currently "sum of parathion-methyl and
    its oxygen analogue".

    RESIDUES IN FOOD AND THEIR EVALUATION

         Most of the analyses on which the earlier evaluations were based
    did not differentiate between parathion-methyl and its oxon, but the
    1968 evaluations indicated that the oxon represented only 1-4 percent
    of the total biologically active residue on lettuce. When the oxon was
    present it was found to be rapidly hydrolysed in and on the plant.

         Data evaluated in 1979 show parathion-methyl residues of
    1-40 mg/kg in soybeans and 0.3-6.6 mg/kg in soybean forage at
    intervals of 1-14 days after treatment, while no oxon residues were
    detected. Residues of parathion-methyl in cottonseed were usually
    below the limit of determination, but reached measurable levels of
    0.1-0.3 mg/kg in 12 samples. Residues of the oxon in all these were
    below the limit of determination (0.05 mg/kg).

    RECOMMENDATION

         MRLs should be for parathion-methyl only without any numerical
    change.

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Parathion-methyl (FAO/PL:1968/M/9/1)
       Parathion-methyl (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 2)
       Parathion-methyl (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 5)
       Parathion-methyl (Pesticide residues in food: 1978 evaluations)
       Parathion-methyl (Pesticide residues in food: 1979 evaluations)
       Parathion-methyl (Pesticide residues in food: 1980 evaluations)
       Parathion-methyl (Pesticide residues in food: 1995 evaluations Part II Toxicological & Environmental)