[Separate Analysis of Loquat Fruit Pulp, Peel, and Pits to Calculate Pesticide Residue Levels in the Whole Commodity].

To evaluate the effects of handling "not detectable" residues (ND: <0.01 mg/kg) in the pulp and detectable residues in the pits on the calculation of pesticide residue in the whole fruit, residue levels in the pulp, peel, and pits of loquat fruits were separately analyzed. Following conventional Japanese agricultural practices, 16 pesticides were sprayed at the maximum application rates in three test fields. All target pesticides were detected at quantifiable levels in the peel (n=144). In contrast, the percentages of detected pesticides in the pulp and pits were 42% (n=61) and 36% (n=52), respectively. Most pesticide residues were present in the peel. For comparison, the pesticide residue levels in the whole fruits were determined based on three indices: the highest estimate (H), calculated using the measured residue levels in the pits and by replacing the ND residues in the pulp as the limit of quantification (LOQ) values; conventional estimate (C), calculated by neglecting all residues in the pits (0 mg/kg) and replacing the ND residues in the pulp as LOQ values; and the lowest estimate (L), calculated by neglecting all residues in the pits and the ND residues in the pulp (0 mg/kg). The L/C and H/C ratios ranged from 74% (L/C) to 106% (H/C). In seven of eighty-three cases with less than 90% difference, residue levels in the whole loquat fruits were low (≤0.06 mg/kg), with the actual range being equal to or below the minimum unit of 0.01. In comparison of three field datasets, the range of residue levels was estimated to be 2.77 mg/kg. Based on the results of separate analysis, handling of ND residues in the pulp and detectable residues in the pits did not significantly affect the calculated pesticide residue levels in the whole loquat fruits.