Investigation of the efficacy of natural and chemical solutions on removing pesticide residues in tomatoes

Pesticides are chemical materials that are used in various forms in order to fight against or to control insects and crop enemies. Meanwhile, pesticides have also toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on living creatures. It has not been made possible yet to easily remove residue of the pesticides that are commonly used in growing and producing fruits and vegetables prior their consumption. The objective of this research is to determine the efficacy of solutions having different biochemical properties which are prepared with materials that are easily findable even on a daily basis on removing residue of the pesticides that are commonly used in growing and producing tomatoes. Through this research, batches of tomatoes procured from a unique production plant have been separated into three different sampling groups. The first group consists of tomatoes onto which no operation has been implemented. The second group consists of tomatoes onto which commonly used pesticides in tomato production (acetamiprid, methomyl) were applied. The tomatoes on the third sampling group are washed with different solvents through which their efficacies are being investigated and then the tomatoes are dried in room temperature after having been treated like the tomatoes in the second batch. Solutions used in the washing process are prepared with easily findable teas and spices extracts and their different mixtures on different proportions. These are solutions prepared with the washing of cereals like bulgur and rice, solutions taken from vegetables like potatoes, onion, garlic, lemon. Moreover, chemicals that are easily findable in house appliances like milk, cologne, liquid soap, salts and their different mixtures. Furthermore, effects of tap water in room temperature and in different temperature ranges were compared. Every sampling on all groups were extracted using QuEChERS kit and analyzed in terms of pesticide residue quantity through LC-MSMS. As a result, washing solutions that have been prepared present different reactions towards each kind of pesticide. The reason of the different reactions and efficacy lies in the differences in the chemical structures of the pesticides and also the different properties of the washing solutions. Moreover, it has been deducted that the washing solutions have different effects on removing pesticide residues depending on the temperature and concentrations. It is an efficient method to prepare washing solutions for removing pesticide residues with ingredient materials that are easily findable in household. Washing solutions prepared with different proportion of mixture of various materials are found to have a wider effect on removing pesticide residues.