LAUSR

BACKGROUND Several diseases and insects may cause potential damage to the normal growth of cucumber. Azoxystrobin and meptyldinocap are effective against pathogens which have developed reduced sensitivity to other fungicides because of their novel mode of action. Azoxystrobin is persistent in various crops and environment. However, there is a lack of research on dissipation of these two pesticides, especially meptyldinocap. RESULTS Analytes could be quantified with decent recoveries of 90-101% with RSDs of 3.0-10.1%. The terminal residues of meptyldinocap and azoxystrobin in cucumber were all < LOQ (0.02 and 0.05 mg kg ^ -1). The half-lives of meptyldinocap and azoxystrobin were 0.8-1.1 and 1.2-2.8 days, respectively. The PFs for washing were all < 1, but the removal rate of washing was < 29.0%. Peeling had a significant effect on the removal of pesticide. The largest residue reductions were noticed through pickling process, but special concern on residues should be taken in the pickling solution since pesticides could transfer from cucumber to it. More interesting finding was that the degradation of two pesticides was accelerated by the addition of calcium oxide. CONCLUSION Residue decreased after processing and the distribution of two pesticides was in the interior skin of cucumber. These results contributed to the health risk characterization from dietary exposures to pesticide residues, the MRLs settlement or processing factors for pesticide residues in food products and the optimization of food processing with regard to pesticide residues dissipation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.