The document summarizes a study that tested for the presence of nitrogen-containing pesticides and insecticides in various fruits and vegetables like apples, grapes, brinjal, and tomatoes. Samples of the fruits and vegetables were crushed and extracted with alcohol. The extracts were then tested using Lassigne's test, which involves fusing the extract with sodium and testing the filtrate for the presence of cyanide ions, indicating the presence of nitrogen and thus pesticides. All fruit and vegetable samples showed positive results, suggesting the presence of nitrogenous pesticides in all tested foods. The study demonstrates a method for detecting pesticide residues in foods.

1. PRESENCE OF INSECTICIDES AND PESTICIDES IN VARIOUS
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
ABSTRACT
The intensive development of agriculture means that more and more toxic organic
and inorganic compounds areentering the environment. Because oftheir widespread
use, stability, selective toxicity and bio accumulation, pesticides are among the most
toxic substances contaminating the environment. They are particularly dangerous in
fruits and vegetables, by which people are exposed to them. It is therefore crucial to
monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables using all available analytical
methods. In the present study, an effort has been made to evaluate the presence of
pesticides and insecticides (nitrogen containing) in various fruits and vegetables.
INTRODUCTION
Pesticide is actually a generic term and is usually applied or understood in the
context of agricultural usage. It could be disinfectant, an anti-microbial agent, even
a virus or a bacterium itself. In the specific context of agricultural use, it could be an
insecticide, an organic fungicide or an organic herbicide.
India is the biggest producerof pesticide in Asia, spewing around 1,00,000 MT per
annum. We are also the 12th largest user of pesticides in the world. Before increasing
our pesticide consumption, let us not forget the lessons of classical “Green
Revolution”. Even as the newly independent India maximized the application of
fertilizers and pesticides to green her fields, her soils steadily upped their thirst for
irrigation. Under the agencies of UNEP, there is an international body that work
under the Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants. Formed at about
the same time when pesticides residue was detected in soft drinks in India, this body
identifies chemical substances that persist in environment posing threats to human
health.
To an agriculturalist, at least it would seem as if they do the mostuseful work. They
increase crop yield by saving crops from pests. In the US, it is assessed that the
money spent on pesticides is returned four times over in terms of higher yield. It is
still not uncommon in India to hear about death caused because of fruits, vegetables
or grains well sprayed with pesticides, which are not washed properly before

2. cooking. And farm animals are not less at risk, they are another indirect route for
pesticides to reach human stomach. Some of the solutions to reduce pesticide
dependence includes poly culture, trap cropping, composting yard waste etc.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the presence of insecticides or pesticides (Nitrogen containing) in apple,
grapes, brinjal and tomato.
NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE
In the pastdecadethere has been a tremendous increase in the yields ofvarious crops
to meet the demand of overgrowing population, achieved by using pesticides and
insecticides. These are chemicals that are sprayed over crop to protectit from pests.
Forexample, DDT, BHC, zinc phosphide, Mercuric chloride, dinitrophenol, etc. All
pesticides are poisonous chemicals and are used in small quantities with care.
Pesticides are proven to be effective against variety of insects, weeds and fungi and
are respectively called insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.
Most of the pesticides are non-biodegradable and remain penetrated as such into
plants, fruits and vegetables. From plants they transfer to animals, birds and human
beings who eat these polluted fruits and vegetables. Inside the body they get
accumulated and cause serious health problems. These days preference is given to
biodegradable insecticides like malathion. The presence of Insecticides residues in
even raw samples of wheat, fish, meat, butter etc. have aroused the concern of
agricultural administrators, scientists and health officials all over the world to put a
check over the use of insecticides and to search for non-insecticidal means of pest
control.
Through this project, we can identify the presence of insecticides and pesticides in
various fruits and vegetables. Thereby we will know how much chemicals are we
eating day by day and so we can take enough measures against this by doing bio
farming up to at least some extent.

3. THEORY
Nitrogen present in organic compounds is detected by Lassigne’s test. The element
present in the compound are converted from covalent form into ionic form by fusing
the compound with sodium metal. The following reaction takes place:
Na + C + N → NaCN
Cyanide of sodium so formed on sodium fusion is extracted from the fused mass
by boiling it with distilled water. This extract is known as sodium fusion extract.
MATERIALSREQUIRED
Mortar and pestle, beakers, funnels, glass rod, china dish, filter paper, tripod stand,
water bottle, fusion tube, test tubes, knife
Samples of various fruits and vegetables: apple, grapes, brinjal and tomato
Chemicals: alcohol, sodium metal, ferrous sulphate, distilled water and dilute
sulfuric acid
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Take different kinds of fruit and vegetables and cut them into small piece
separately.
2. Transfer the cut piece of various fruits and vegetables in mortar separately and
crush them.
3. Take different beaker of each kind of fruits and vegetables and place the crushed
fruit and vegetable in these beakers, and add 10ml of alcohol to each or these. Stir
well and filter collect the filtrate in separate china dishes.
4. Evaporate the alcohol by heating china dishes one by one over water bath and let
the residue dry in an oven.
5. Heat a small piece of dry sodium in a fusion tube, till it melts. Then add one of
the above residues from china dish to the fusion tube and heat till red hot. Drop the
hot fusion tube in china dish containing about 110ml of distilled water. Break the
tube and boil the contents of the china dish for about 5 minutes to cool and filter
solution. Collect the filtrate.
6. To the filtrate add 1ml freshly prepared ferrous sulphate solution and warm the
contents. Then, add 2-3 drops of ferric chloride solution and acidity with the dil.
Hydrochloric acid if a blue or green precipitate or coloration is obtained, it indicated
the presence of nitrogen containing insecticide.

4. 7. Repeat the test of nitrogen for residue obtained from other fruits and vegetable
and record observation
OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS
Sl.no. Name of
fruit/vegetable
Test for presence of
Nitrogen(positive/negative)
Presence of
pesticide/insecticide
residue
1 Apple Positive Yes
2 Grapes Positive Yes
3 Brinjal Positive Yes
4 Tomato Positive Yes
When the filtrate of apple extract was treated with ferric chloride solution and
acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid and ferrous sulphate solution, a blue
precipitate was obtained. This clearly indicates the presence of nitrogen containing
insecticides in apple. Like wise the same test was repeated for grapes, brinjal and
tomato. A green and blue precipitate was obtained for all the three. This clearly
indicates that they also contain nitrogenous pesticides.
CONCLUSION
Nitrogenous insecticides were simultaneously detected from fruits and vegetables
suchas apple, grapes, brinjal and tomato with sodium fusion extract. The results also
show that the proposed method for determination of the presence of pesticides and
insecticides can be used to analyze traces of insecticides residue in other fruits and
vegetable samples too.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES
The following suggestions may be considered while studying the use of chemical
pesticides and insecticides in various fruits and vegetables which we use in daily
life:

5.  Identify the circumstances under which chemical pesticides may be required
in future pest management
 Determine what types ofchemical products arethe mostappropriate tools fore
ecologically based pest management
 Explore the most promising opportunities to increase benefits and reduce
health risk of pesticide use
 Recommend an appropriate role for the public sector in research, product
development, and registration, implementation of pesticide use strategies and
public education about pesticides.
REFERENCES
1.Modern practical chemistry-XII
2.Comprehensive practical chemistry – XII
3.NCERT chemistry text -XII
4.www.encyclopedia.com
5. www.wikipedia.com
6.projects.icbse.com