Metazachlor residues in soil and rape seed

The purpose of the work was to analyse metazachlor contamination of the soil and metazachlor contamination of rape seeds. Monitoring tests were carried out during the 2010-2012 time period, on winter and spring oilseed rape fields located in south-western Poland. Soil and seed samples were collected at harvest time. The determination of metazachlor residues was conducted using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD). Based on the analysis of a total of 59 soil samples and 59 rape seed samples, metazachlor residue was detected in 45% of the soil samples of winter oilseed rape and in 71% of the soil samples of spring oilseed rape. Metazachlor contamination of rape seed was detected in 29% of winter rape samples and in 53% of spring rape samples. The concentration of assayed residue did not exceed 0.0005-0.0102 mg/kg. There were significantly higher amounts of metazachlor residue determined for the soil and seed samples of spring oilseed rape. None of the analyzed samples of oilseed rape seed showed a residue content exceeding the Maximum Residue Level (MRL).