Food and Chemical Toxicology 50 (2012) 385389

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Food and Chemical Toxicology

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Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticides in fresh omija

(Schizandra chinensis Baillon) fruit and juice
Hye Ran Jeong 1, Sung Jin Lim 1, Jae Young Cho
Department of Bio-environmental Chemistry, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 1 August 2011
Accepted 12 October 2011
Available online 3 November 2011
Keywords:
Food safety
Omija
Pesticide
Risk assessment
Schizandra chinensis Baillon

a b s t r a c t
Schizandra chinensis Baillon, or omija, is a fruit native to northeast Asia that is cultivated in South Korea
and China. Fresh omija fruit has been used in beverages, traditional East Asian medicine and cosmetics
because of its complex avor and pharmacological effectiveness. The objective of this study was to analyze residue levels of 33 kinds of pesticides on fresh omija fruits and in omija juices produced in South
Korea. A risk assessment of the pesticides in omija juice was conducted by calculating EDI and ADI. Most
of the pesticide levels were below the LOD in fresh omija fruits. Among the detected compounds, the
most frequently detected pesticide was ethoprophos. The EDIs of ethoprophos, pendimethalin and hexaconazole were 5.89E-03, 7.08E-04 and 4.73E-05, respectively. The percent of EDI to ADI of ethoprophos,
pendimethalin and hexaconazole was 28.0%, 13.6% and 4.5%, respectively. The results of this research
concluded that the detected pesticides are not harmful to human beings.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.

1. Introduction
Schizandra chinensis Baillon, also called omija, is a fruit native to
Northeast Asia that is cultivated in South Korea and China. The
physiologically active components of omija include lignan components, such as schizandran and gomisin, which are known to lower
blood glucose and blood pressure, to help with intestinal normalization, and to have anti-aging and immunoregulation properties
(Lee et al., 2009a,b). In South Korea, fresh omija fruit is commonly
used in beverages, traditional medicine, cosmetics and aromatherapy because of its complex avor (sour, bitter, pungent, sweet and
salty) and pharmacological effectiveness.
Recently, omija cultivation increased rapidly due to demand as
food and medicine. The total area of omija cultivation in Korea
was 393 ha in 1995, 561 ha in 2002, 1000 ha in 2007 and
1600 ha in 2009, showing dramatic increases since the early
2000s (Cho, 2010). A number of pesticides have been used for
the control of weeds, plant pathogens and pests in omija orchards. Pesticides authorized by the Korea Crop Protection Association (2009). To control plant pathogens and pests in omija
orchards include pyraclostrobin, uquinconazole, triforine, fenarimol, fenbuconazole and hexaconazole. However, at some omija
farms, ethoprophos, endosulfan, antracol, polyoxins, metalaxyl,
mancozeb, benomyl and thiophanate-methyl are used to control
pests and pathogens. Endosulfan and mancozeb, which are
Corresponding author. Tel.: +82 63 270 2547; fax: +82 63 270 2550.
1

E-mail address: soilcosmos@jbnu.ac.kr (J.Y. Cho).

These authors contributed equally to this work.

0278-6915/$ - see front matter Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2011.10.064

regarded as endocrine disruptors, are prohibited in South Korea

due to undesirable effects on the ecosystem. There are no authorized herbicides for weed control in omija orchards. Nevertheless,
herbicides such as paraquat, pendimethalin and glufosinate are
used in order to control weeds. Average yearly applications of
pesticides are two to four times for herbicides and four to six
times for plant pathogens and insect pests. These pesticides continue to be used as agro-chemicals because of their low cost and
broad-spectrum activity.
The use of pesticides raises serious food safety and environmental issues, as residues may translocate, accumulate or deposit
into fruit tissues. Much research has reported pesticide residues
in various agricultural products including peppers, onions, cucurbitaceous fruit and sweet persimmons in South Korea (Kim and
Choi, 2008; Kim et al., 2005a,b, 2007; Lee et al., 2005). However,
relatively few studies have performed analyses and risk assessments of pesticides on omija fruit. Consumers who are susceptible to agro-chemicals and ingest relatively large quantities of
fruit juices are in particular danger, although the concentrations
in fruit juice are generally lower than those observed in the
whole fruit. However, most fresh omija fruit is consumed raw
rather than in processed products. Thus, determining pesticide
residues in fresh omija fruits as well as omija juices is important
(Lee, 2010).
The objective of this study was to analyze residue levels of 33
kinds of pesticide on fresh omija fruits and in omija juices produced in South Korea. Also a risk assessment was conducted by calculating the EDI (estimated daily intake) and ADI (acceptable daily
intake) of pesticides in omija juice.

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H.R. Jeong et al. / Food and Chemical Toxicology 50 (2012) 385389

Table 2
The analytical conditions used for gas chromatography (Sin et al., 2006).

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Chemicals
Certied reference standards for all test pesticides were of >98% purity, and
were purchased from Ehrenstorfer GmbH (Augsburg, Germany) and stored at room
temperature. Standard stock solutions were made by dissolving each analytical
standard in methanol or acetone for a nal concentration of 100 mg /L. The ethyl
acetate, acetone, petroleum ether, dichloromethane and water used were all HPLC
grade. The anhydrous sodium sulfate was of analytical reagent grade and purchased
from Merck India Ltd. (Mumbai, India). Florisil was activated by heating at 130 C
for 12 hr before use and kept in a desiccator.
2.2. Sampling
Recently, as part of a strategy for specialized businesses, the areas for omija cultivation have sharply increased, centering on existing cultivation complexes (Cho,
2010). In 2009, the production of fresh omija in South Korea was about 3600 tons
(Korea Food and Drug Administration, 2009). Representative fresh omija fruit samples were collected from September to October 2009. A total of 320 samples were
collected from the following omija cultivation areas: 90 sites in Mungyeong-si, 70
sites in Jangsu-gun, 50 sites in Jinan-gun, 60 sites in Geochang-gun and 50 sites
in Hamyang-gun. The fresh omija fruit samples collected from each site were
immediately put into polyethylene bags and stored at 20 C until analysis. Collection of omija juice was conducted from March to April 2010. A total of 100 omija
fruit juice samples that were produced in same area as the omija fruit cultivation
area were also collected.

Detector
Inlet
temperature
Detector
temperature
Flow rate
Column
Oven
temperature
program

Group 1

Group II

Group III

Group IV

ECD
280 C

ECD
270 C

NPD
250 C

NPD
280 C

310 C

290 C

280 C

310 C

0.9 mL/min
Ultra-2
130 C,1 mim
5 C/mim
180 C,17 mim
5 C/mim
215 C,8 mim
5 C/mim
290 C, 11 mim

0.8 mL/min
SPB 608
230 C,16 mim
5 C/mim
245 C,8 mim
5 C/mim
270 C,5 mim
10 C/mim
290 C, 7 mim

1.2 mL/min
Ultra-1
120 C,1 mim
5 C/mim
150 C,10 mim
5 C/mim
190 C,15 mim
10 C/mim
300 C,2 mim

1.0 mL/min
Ultra-2
130 C,1 mim
5 C/mim
185 C,27 mim
10 C/mim
280 C,15 mim

(2006). In this study, a simple and reliable methodology was improved to detect
33 kinds of pesticides in the samples by using a liquidliquid extraction procedure,
open column chromatography and chromatographic analysis by a GC electro capture detector (ECD) and GC nitrogenphosphors detector (NPD) (Table 2).
2.5. Method validation

2.3. Extraction and purication

The sample extraction procedure was carried out according to the method described in the Korea Food Standards Codex (2009). After grinding fresh omija fruit
in a blender, 20 g of ground sample was weighed in a beaker. For the omija juice, we
weighed 100 mL in a beaker. Pesticides were extracted with 100 mL of 70% acetone
for 10 min. Extracts using celite for lter residue were removed by suction ltration
and the residue was transferred to a separatory funnel. The separatory funnels were
placed on a shaker for 5 min with 50 mL of petroleum ether, 50 mL of dichloromethane and 50 mL of saturated NaCl. Then, the organic layer was passed though
the anhydrous sodium sulfate into a round-bottomed ask and dissolved in acetone, resulting in a 10 mL concentrated solution for testing. The nal extract was
concentrated in a rotator evaporator at 40 C until dryness. A clean-up procedure
was conducted via open column chromatography (3  30 cm) packed with orisil
(30 g). To remove impurities from the test solution, the solution was passed
through orisil in a tube activated at 130 C for 12hr and puried, then eluted with
30 mL hexane:dichloromethane (1:1, v/v), 30 mL ether:hexane (9:1, v/v), and 30 mL
acetone:dichloromethane (1:9, v/v). This solvent was evaporated slowly to dryness
at 3540 C under a gentle stream of nitrogen. The dried residue was re-dissolved
into 2 mL of acetone for analysis. An Agilent 6890 series gas chromatography
(GC) system (Agilent Technologies, USA) was used for pesticide analysis.
2.4. Instrumental analysis
The 33 pesticides were classied into four groups according to their chemical
structures (Table 1). The simultaneous analysis of multi-residual pesticides was
developed using a gas chromatography (GC) method described by Sin et al.
Table 1
Classication of pesticides examined in this study.
Group I
(13 kinds)

Group II
(7 kinds)

Group III
(5 kinds)

Group IV
(8 kinds)

Cypermethrin
Dieldrinb
Total-DDTb
Endosulfan sulfate
Endrinb
Aldrinb
Fenarimola
Total-BHCb
Captan
Chlorpyrifos
Pyraclostrobina
Fluquinconazolea
Triforinea

Carboxin
Diazinon
Ethoprophos
Fenobucarb
Fenthion
Pyrazophos
Tebuconazole

Fenbuconazolea
Isofenphos
Metalaxyl
Pendimethalin
Propiconazole

Chlorpyrifos-methyl
Diclofop-methyl
Heptachlor
Hexaconazolea
Isoprothiolane
Penconazole
Telubenzuron
Triumizole

a
Pesticides authorized for use on omija medicinal crops by the Korea Crop Protection Association (2009).
b
Pesticides controlled as crude drugs by the Korea Food and Drug Administration
(2009).

Sample preparation and analytical methods were validated in terms of limits of

linearity, detection and recovery. The linearity of the standard curves was injected
at concentrations 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 lg/L, respectively (three replications). The limits of detection (LOD) were measured as analyte concentration based
on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Recovery of pesticide was determined by spiking
with a standard of pesticide aqueous solution.

3. Results and discussions

3.1. Method validation
The 33 pesticides (six authorized by the Korea Crop Protection
Association, ve controlled as crude drugs by the KFDA and 22
used to control pests, pathogens and weeds in orchards in South
Korea) were chosen based on their use in omija cultivation. Table 3
presents the LOD, recovery and MRLs of all pesticides in crops for
the validation study. A linear correlation between pesticide concentration and peak areas was detected with coefcient correlations in the range of 0.960.99 (data not shown). Validation of
the analytical method was conducted in terms of recovery of the
spiked sample. Recoveries were found to be 80.194.5% for fresh
omija fruits and 82.494.2% for omija juices using the established
method. These results suggest that the experimental procedure
including extraction, clean-up and instrumental analysis is suitable
for use in the analysis of the targeted pesticide residues in the
samples.
3.2. Pesticide levels in fresh omija fruit
According to previous research, monitoring of pesticide residues in fresh omija fruits has not been performed in South Korea.
However, pesticide residue analysis for other fruits and agricultural products has been carried out (Lee et al., 2006; Kim et al.,
2005a,b, 2007, 2008; Cho et al., 2000). The pesticide levels detected
in fresh omija fruits (n = 320) are shown in Table 4.
As seen in Table 4, most of the pesticides were below the LOD in
fresh omija fruits. Specically, only endosulfan, ethoprophos and
pendimethalin were detected in fresh omija fruits. All of the pesticides authorized by the Korea Crop Protection Association (pyraclostrobin, uquinconazole, triforine, fenarimol, fenbuconazole
and hexaconazole) were detected below the LOD. Ethoprophos
was detected above the LOD in 125 samples (frequency: 39.06%,

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H.R. Jeong et al. / Food and Chemical Toxicology 50 (2012) 385389

Table 3
Validation parameters.
Pesticide

Table 4
Pesticide levels detected in fresh omija fruit (n = 320).
LOD (mg/L)

Recovery rate (%)

MRL
(mg/L)

Fruit

Juice

Fruit

Juice

Cypermethrin
Dieldrin
Total-DDT
Endosulfan
Endrin
Aldrin
Fenarimol
Total-BHC
Captan
Chlopyrifos
Pyraclostrobin
Fluquinconazole
Triforine

0.0125
0.0050
0.0050
0.0125
0.0050
0.0050
0.0125
0.0250
0.0125
0.0250
0.0250
0.0250
0.0125

0.0013
0.0005
0.0005
0.0013
0.0005
0.0005
0.0013
0.0025
0.0013
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0013

82.1 1.8
88.3 2.2
91.2 3.3
84.2 2.8
88.5 1.5
90.2 0.9
82.5 2.4
80.1 0.8
94.2 2.4
85.3 1.5
92.4 3.4
94.5 2.6
88.2 2.4

84.2 1.5
85.7 2.4
89.2 3.5
94.2 2.0
86.4 1.4
92.2 1.4
84.3 2.7
82.4 1.2
88.4 2.0
86.4 1.2
88.7 2.4
89.7 2.4
86.4 1.2

0.50a
0.01g
0.10g
0.10b
0.01g
0.01g
2.00f
0.20g
5.00a
1.00a
5.00f
3.00f
1.00f

Carboxin
Diazinon
Ethoprophos
Fenobucarb
Fenthion
Pyrazophos
Tebuconazole

0.0250
0.0250
0.0050
0.0125
0.0250
0.0250
0.0250

0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0013
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025

81.4 1.5
92.6 3.0
84.9 2.4
90.5 1.9
93.2 1.6
91.3 2.4
85.7 1.7

86.2 2.4
90.4 1.5
86.4 3.2
92.6 2.4
90.4 1.8
92.4 2.1
88.3 3.2

0.20c
0.10a
0.02a
0.50c
0.20a
0.05d
1.00a

Fenbuconazole
Isofenphos
Metalaxyl
Pendimethalin
Propiconazole

0.0250
0.0250
0.0250
0.0125
0.0250

0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0013
0.0025

86.4 1.2
82.3 3.2
89.0 0.9
84.8 1.2
87.4 1.0

84.2 1.4
84.6 2.2
88.2 1.0
88.4 1.8
84.2 2.0

3.00f
0.05c
1.00a
0.05c
0.50a

Chlopyrifos-methyl
Diclofop-methyl
Heptachlor
Hexaconazole
Isoprothiolane
Penconazole
Telubenzuron
Triumizole

0.0250
0.0250
0.0050
0.0125
0.0125
0.0250
0.0250
0.0250

0.0025
0.0025
0.0025
0.0013
0.0013
0.0025
0.0025
0.0025

90.8 2.1
86.4 2.4
88.2 1.6
86.1 1.4
89.4 2.4
80.5 2.9
92.4 1.6
88.7 2.2

91.4 0.9
87.2 1.4
85.4 3.0
83.4 2.4
91.2 1.4
85.3 2.5
90.2 1.4
86.7 2.3

0.10c
1.00a
0.01d
1.00f
0.05c
0.50a
0.20e
2.00a

MRL in grapes.
MRL in kiwis.
MRL in rice.
d
MRL in wheat.
e
MRL in cucumbers (KHIDI, 2009).
f
Pesticides authorized for use on omija medicinal crops by the Korea Crop
Protection Association (2009).
g
Pesticides controlled as crude drugs by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (2009).

Pesticide

Number of
detected over
LOD

Number of
detected over
MRL

Ratio of
detection
(%)

Ratio
over
MRL (%)

Cypermethrin
Dieldrin
Total-DDT
Endosulfan
Endrin
Aldrin
Fenarimol
Total-BHC
Captan
Chlopyrifos
Pyraclostrobin
Fluquinconazole
Triforine

2
-

2
-

0.63
-

0.63
-

Carboxin
Diazinon
Ethoprophos
Fenobucarb
Fenthion
Pyrazophos
Tebuconazole

125
-

4
-

39.06
-

1.23
-

Fenbuconazole
Isofenphos
Metalaxyl
Pendimethalin
Propiconazole

4
-

1.25
-

Chlopyrifosmethyl
Diclofop-methyl
Heptachlor
Hexaconazole
Isoprothiolane
Penconazole
Telubenzuron
Triumizole

range: 0.00580.0225 mg/kg, mean: 0.0081 mg/kg) and above

MRLs in four samples (1.23%) (in grape: 0.02 mg/kg), endosulfan
was above MRLs in two samples (frequency: 0.03%, range: 0.125
0.412 mg/kg, mean: 0.269 mg/kg) (in kiwi: 0.10 mg/kg) and pendimethalin was above the LOD in four samples (frequency: 1.25%,
range: 0.00580.0225 mg/kg, mean: 0.0081 mg/kg). Among the detected compounds, the most frequently detected pesticide in fresh
omija fruits was ethoprophos.
The characteristics of the detected pesticides in this study are as
follows. Ethoprophos (O-ethyl S,S-dipropyl phosphorodithioate,
C8H19O2PS2) is a broad spectrum and non-systemic organophosphorus pesticide that is extremely toxic to mammals. It is a direct
inhibitor of cholinesterases through phosphorylation of the esteratic site of the enzyme. These include wire worms, nematodes
and corn rootworms and soil inhabiting arthropods (WHO, 1988).
Ethoprophos is widely used in order to control pests such as coccids, tea red spider mites, oriental moths and grain weevils in omija
orchards. Pendimethalin (3,4-dimethyl-2,6-dinitro-N-pentan-3-ylaniline, C13H19N3O4) is a selective herbicide used to control most
annual grasses and certain broadleaf weeds in eld corn, potatoes,
rice, cotton, soybeans, tobacco, peanuts and sunowers. It is
slightly toxic if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin
(Zulalian, 1990). There is no authorized herbicide for weed control

in omija orchards. However, as a result of this study, in order to

control weeds, some farmers used the herbicide pendimethalin.
First registered for use in 1954, endosulfan (1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachloro-8,9,10-trinorborn-5-en-2,3-ylenebismethylene sulte, C9H6Cl6
O3S) is a broad spectrum organo-chlorine insecticide. It is banned
or withdrawn in 55 countries worldwide. However, endosulfan is
still widely applied to crops, particularly in the developing world
(US EPA, 2007). Insecticides considered to be endocrine disruptors,
such as endosulfan, are often used to control pests in some omija
orchards.
Most of the samples were not detected over the MRLs. In
some samples, the residual pesticides detected were ethoprophos, endosulfan and pendimethalin, none of which are authorized by the Korea Crop Protection Association (2009) for omija
cultivation. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor
and control the pollution of authorized or unauthorized pesticides, in order to prevent the excessive build-up of pesticides
in the food chain.

3.3. Pesticide level in omija juice

Pesticides used in pre- and postharvest treatments to control
diseases of fruits and vegetables may persist over the season and
appear in processed products for human consumption, such as fruit
juices, that are widely consumed, particularly by children (Albero,
Sanchez-Brunete, and Tadeo, 2003). While there are strict regulations and exhaustive controls for pesticides in fruits, vegetables
and drinking water, scarce attention has been paid to derivative
products, which may contain these commodities as ingredients.

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H.R. Jeong et al. / Food and Chemical Toxicology 50 (2012) 385389

large amounts of pesticides, and these compounds are then transferred to the nal product (Garcia-Reyes et al., 2008).

Table 5
Pesticide levels detected in omija juice (n = 100).
Number of
detected over
LOD

Number of
detected over
MRL

Ratio of
detection
(%)

Ratio
over
MRL (%)

Cypermethrin
Dieldrin
Total-DDT
Endosulfan
Endrin
Aldrin
Fenarimol
Total-BHC
Captan
Chlopyrifos
Pyraclostrobin
Fluquinconazole
Triforine

Carboxin
Diazinon
Ethoprophos
Fenobucarb
Fenthion
Pyrazophos
Tebuconazole

6
-

6.0
-

Fenbuconazole
Isofenphos
Metalaxyl
Pendimethalin
Propiconazole

1
-

1.0
-

Chlopyrifosmethyl
Diclofop-methyl
Heptachlor
Hexaconazole
Isoprothiolane
Penconazole
Telubenzuron
Triumizole

5
-

5.0
-

Pesticide

In the case of the fruit-based soft drink industry, there are no clear
regulations relating to pesticides, even when there is signicant
consumption by vulnerable groups such as children. Despite the
large quantity of these products consumed daily, no attention
has been paid to enforce the safety of these products in terms of
chemical composition, even though they are considered representative and relevant in terms of consumption (Garca-Reyes, GilbertLopez, and Molina-Daz, 2008).
Table 5 summarizes the pesticide levels found in 100 commercial omija juices purchased in South Korea. Three of the 33 pesticides were found in omija juice. Ethoprophos, pendimethalin and
hexaconazole were found in the commercial omija juices. Among
the detected compounds, ethoprophos and pendimethalin were
found in the fresh omija fruit and omija juice, but hexaconazole
was found in only omija juices. Hexaconazole (2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexan-2-ol, C14H17Cl2N3O) is a
pre- and postharvest fungicide used for the control of many fungi,
particularly Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. Ethoprophos was
detected in six samples (6%) in the concentration range 0.0038
0.0082 mg/kg (mean: 0.0052 mg/kg) and hexaconazole in ve
samples (5%) in the concentration range 0.00560.0129 mg/kg
(mean: 0.0075 mg/kg), whereas pendimethalin was found in only
one sample (0.0025 mg/kg). Among the detected compounds, the
most frequently detected pesticide in fresh omija fruit and omija
juice was ethoprophos. But all the samples contained pesticide residues lower than their respective MRLs. The source of pesticides in
omija juice could be attributed to manufacturing practices: the
peels of the fruits (mainly citrus) are not removed or washed before being squeezed, probably to reduce costs. The peels contain

3.4. Risk assessment

Humans are chronically exposed to pesticide residues in food.
Pesticides can be harmful to the human body even if it is a very
small amount of pesticide residues. In the case of safety evaluations of pesticide residue for food intake, ADI is the standard for
risk assessment based on the chronic toxicity of pesticides for humans. An exposure evaluation was conducted based on the results
of monitoring pesticide residue in order to determine the degree of
risk according to pesticide residues detected in samples. Risk
assessments were performed using EDI and ADI. EDI was calculated using the average consumption per person per day and pesticide residues data (Lee, 2010).
According to data from the Korea Food and Drug Administration
(2009), average levels of daily intake per person of fresh omija fruit
were zero for all ages. In the year 2009, the production of fresh
omija fruit in South Korea amounted to 3600 tons. Dried medicinal
herbs accounted for 15% of the fruit use, and the rest was used in
the manufacturing of omija juice. Therefore, we performed the
analysis and risk assessment on omija juice only. The percent ratio
of EDI to ADI was calculated as (EDI/ADE)  100 and acceptable
dietary exposure (ADE) was calculated as ADI (mg/kg)  Korean
average adult weight (55 kg) (Lee et al., 2009a,b).
Exposure to pesticides from omija juice was calculated. The
EDIs of ethoprophos, pendimethalin and hexaconazole were
5.89E-03, 7.08E-04 and 4.73E-05, respectively. The percent ratios
of EDI to ADI of ethoprophos, pendimethalin and hexaconazole
were 28.0%, 13.6% and 4.5%, respectively. If the results of such analyses exceed 100%, there is a potential for risk to consumers. Thus,
we detected no signicant effects of pesticide residues in omija
juice on human health because the values were relatively low
(Chun and Kang, 2003). Therefore, the detected pesticide levels
are not harmful to human beings. Although our results show negligible risk associated with exposure via omija juice consumption,
special precautions should be taken to reduce total exposure to
these chemicals from various foods (Lee, 2010).
4. Conclusions
Among the detected compounds, ethoprophos and pendimethalin were found in both fresh omija fruit and omija juice, but hexaconazole was found in only omija juices. Most of the pesticides we
assessed were below the LOD in fresh omija fruits. Specically,
only three of the 33 pesticides, ethoprophos, pendimethalin and
hexaconazole, were found in omija fruits or juice. The percent ratios of EDI to ADI of ethoprophos, pendimethalin and hexaconazole
were 28.0%, 13.6% and 4.5%, respectively, in omija juice. Our results
showed that the detected pesticide levels are not high enough to be
harmful to human beings. Although our results indicate negligible
risk associated with exposure via omija juice consumption, special
precautions should be taken to reduce total exposure to these
chemicals from various foods.
Conict of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conicts of interest.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Jangsu Omija Cluster in the
Republic of Korea.

H.R. Jeong et al. / Food and Chemical Toxicology 50 (2012) 385389

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