30 Most Commonly Found Pesticides Print E-mail
Pesticide Reported occurrences in non organic survey samples (total for 2005 and 2006 combined) Type Used On Class Toxicity Legal Status
1 Chlormequat 443 plant growth regulator bran, bread, flour, wheat Quaternary Ammonium Compound No toxicity listed Allowed
2 Imazalil 274 fungicide Cucumbers, bananas, grapefruit, lemons, oranges Azole Acute toxicity, PAN bad actor chemical, developmental or reproductive toxin Allowed
3 Carbendazim 256 breakdown product, fungicide apples, oranges, pears Benzimidazole Slight acute toxicity, possible carcinogen, suspected endocrine disruptor Allowed
4 Thiabendazole 249 fungicide apples, bananas, grapefruit, lemons, mangoes, oranges, peas, beans, potatoes Benzimidazole PAN bad actor chemical, slight acute toxicity, developmental or reproductive toxin Allowed
5 Dithiocarbamates 238 fungicides baby leaf salad, lettuce, pears, apples, Types of dithiocarbamates include: Metam sodium, Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate moderately toxic, possible carcinogen, potential endocrine disruptor Banned use in the UK
6 Iprodione 238 fungicide baby leaf salad, cherries, grapes, pears, plums Dicarboximide PAN bad actor chemical, slight acute toxicity, carcinogen, potential ground water contaminant, suspected endrocrine disruptor. Allowed
7 Chlorpyrifos 191 insecticide, nematicide apples, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, pears Organophosphorus PAN bad actor chemical, moderate acute toxicity, cholinesterase inhibitor, suspected endocrine disruptor Allowed
8 Captan 186 fungicide apples, grapes, pears Thiophthalimide PAN bad actor chemical, acute toxicity, carcinogen Allowed
9 Procymidone 144 fungicide aubergines, grapes, lettuce, pears Dicarboximide PAN bad actor chemical, suspected endocrine disruptor Banned use in the UK
10 Tolylfluanid 137 fungicide, insecticide pears Sulfamide PAN bad actor chemical, carcinogen Banned use in the UK
11 Glyphosate 126 herbicide bran, bread, soya mince Phosphonoglycine Slight acute toxicity, potential ground water contaminent Allowed
12 Diphenylamine 113 fungicide, insecticide, plant growth regulator apples, pears Amine Moderate acute toxicity Allowed
13 DDT 98 insecticide, breakdown product butter, lamb, oily fish, sea bass, sea bream Organochlorine PAN bad actor chemical, moderate acute toxicity, suspected endocrine disruptor Banned use in the UK and export ban
14 Pirimiphos-methyl 98 insecticide bran, bread Organophosphorus PAN bad actor chemical, slight acute toxicity, Cholinesterase inhibitor Allowed
15 Azinphos-methyl 92 insecticide apples, pears Organophosphorus PAN bad actor chemical, actue toxicity, Cholinesterase inhibitor, potential ground water contaminant Ban as plant protection product
16 Imidacloprid 88 insecticide aubergines, cherries, lettuce Neonicotinoid Moderate acute toxicity, potential ground water contaminant Allowed
17 Prochloraz 84 fungicide mangoes, yams Azole Slight acute toxicity, suspected endocrine inhibitor Allowed
18 Cyprodinil 76 fungicide grapes Primidine Slight acute toxicity, potential ground water contaminent Allowed
19 Fenhexamid 71 fungicide grapes Anilide Slight acute toxicity, potential ground water contaminent Allowed
20 Chlorpropham 66 Herbicide, plant growth regulator potatoes Carbamate Slight actue toxicity Allowed
21 Dicofol 66 insecticide lemons, tea Organochlorine PAN bad actor chemical, acute toxicity, possible carcinogen, suspected endocrine disruptor Containg less than 78%p,p*-Dicofol ot more than 1 g/kg of DDT are banned
22 2-phenylphenol 64 biocide grapefruit, lemons, oranges Chlorinated phenol irritation and burns of eyes and skin Allowed
23 Maleic hydrazide 55 plant growth regulator onions, potatoes Unclassified Slight acute toxicity Ban as protection plant, severe restrictions on other uses
24 (2,4-
dichlorophenoxy)
acetic acid		 52 herbicide, plant growth regulator grapefruit, lemons, oranges Chlorophenoxy acid or ester Moderate acute toxicity, possible carcinogen, potential ground water contaminant, suspected endocrine disruptor Banned use in the UK
25 Cypermethrin 50 insecticide lettuce, spinach, yard beans Pyrethroid Possible carcinogean, suspected endocrine disruptor Restricted use pesticide
26 Azoxystrobin 48 fungicide grapes, lettuce Strobin Potential ground water contaminant Allowed
27 Fludioxonil 43 fungicide grapes Phenylpyrrole Slight acute toxicity, potential ground water contaminent Allowed
28 Folpet 41 fungicide lettuce, pears, barley, wheat Thiophthalimide PAN bad actor chemical, carcinogen Banned use in the UK
29 Mepiquat 39 plant growth regulator bran Quaternary Ammonium Compound Slight acute toxicity Allowed
30 Carbaryl 38 insecticide, nematicide, plant groth regulator grapes, pears N-Methyl Carbamate PAN bad actor chemical, moderate actue toxicity, Carcinogen, Cholinesterase inhibitor, potential ground water contaminant, suspected endocrine disruptor Banned use in the UK

(Based on all data published by the Pesticide Residues Committee, 2000-2008 and analysed for the most commonly occuring pesticide residues)