Chlorpyrifos-Methyl, Pirimiphos-Methyl and Fenitrothion Residues in Commercial Wheat Products

We measured the concentrations of organophosphorus pesticide (chlorpyrifos-methyl, pirimiphos-methyl and fenitrothion) residues in domestic and imported commercial wheat products (flour, noodles, cookies) collected from 2008 to 2016. Chlorpyrifos-methyl and fenitrothion in domestic flour samples were detected in 16 out of 34 samples at levels of <0.001 to 0.016 ppm, and in 14 out of 34 samples at levels of <0.001 to 0.004 ppm. Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in 22 out of 38 domestic cookies at levels of <0.001 to 0.054 ppm (median: 0.001 ppm). Relatively high concentrations of chlorpyrifos-methyl (0.005 to 0.054 ppm) were found in six domestic cookies containing wheat bran. Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 32 out of 68 cookies from foreign countries at levels of <0.001 to 0.11 ppm. Pirimiphos-methyl was detected frequently in products imported from Europe.