The electronics show in Las Vegas at the end of January showcases the latest technology innovations and awards around 100 products in different categories, from 3D printing to eco- and sustainable technologies and home appliances.
One of the devices in the Home Appliances category caught my attention: The Taiwanese Industrial Research Institute (ITRI) presented a Handheld Pesticide Residue Detector for consumers. It uses micro-optical inspection to determine whether the amount of pesticide residues is within a safe range while users are washing fruits or vegetables, and informs users when washing is complete.
Apparently, eight washable pesticides from the top 10 pesticide ranking lists in the U.S. and China are detected, among which are:
- Boscalid – a fungicide
- Imidacloprid – an insecticide
- Fludioxonil – a fungicide
- Azoxystrobin – a fungicide
The stated limit of detection is 500 ppb.
What is interesting to note is that there are about 1000 different pesticides, and many cannot easily be detected using optical detection. Also, the laboratory featured in the video is certainly far from what the routine pesticide laboratory looks like in terms of equipment.
This innovation of a pesticide detector for consumers can be considered as a useful first step.
What will be interesting to see are the levels at which such devices show that the product is safe to eat. Taking the example of Boscalid, maximum residue levels range from 0.01mg/kg in loquats (Japanese pome fruits) to up to 50mg/kg in lettuce according to European regulations. And those limits differ among jurisdictions. Which limits will the device manufacturer consider to be safe?
(Image source: https://www.itri.org.tw)
