US EPA

1360464 

Technical Report 

Survey of pesticide residue in agricultural commodities in Japan 

Kanazawa, J 

1972 

HAPAB/72/01630 

Pestic 

HAPAB The problems Japan has with pesticide residues in food and their proposed solutions are reviewed. Application dosages of pesticides by the 1960's were about six or seven times higher than those in Europe and America. As research also revealed high residues in humans, particularly of mercury and BHC, the use of mercurials and organochlorines such as DDT, BHC and cyclodienes in agriculture was restricted. Detailed studies showed that mercurials and BHC were absorbed into rice and other foodstuffs. Residue patterns for insecticides such as EPN, carbaryl and propoxur, were found to be similar to those of DDT and BHC. Much has been learned about the factors that influence residue absorption and degradation, and data is supplied on the distribution of residues in various edible portions of plants. Success in removing residues by washing depends on residue penetration into the plant. Cooking removes some residues such as BHC by steam distillation. 1972