ENIVRONMENT ASIA

Volume 12, No. 01, Month JANUARY, Year 2019, Pages 68 - 73

Acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting insecticide residues in commonly consumed fried edible insects

Thanatchaya Kanthawongwan, Wandee Wattanachaiyingcharoen, and Pantip Hinhumpatch

Abstract Download PDF

Insecticide contaminations in food are increasing public health concern. In Thailand, fried edible insects are commonly taken as snacks and probably part of main dishes in some communities. However, the origins of insect which use as raw ingredient in fried edible insects are in concern as it would be collected from insecticide contaminated areas. Therefore, the extent of insecticide residues contained in commonly consumed fried insects should be considered, especially from those frequently use insecticide; organophosphate and carbamate residues. Five commonly consumed insect species (grasshopper, house cricket, short-tailed cricket, giant water bug, and silkworm pupae) were collected from five street vendors in the city area of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. The degree of toxicity of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides was determined using enzyme inhibition reaction with GT-insecticide residual test kit. The results showed that the degree of carbamate and organophosphate toxicity differed between insect types. The highest percentage of enzyme inhibition was found in grasshoppers (53.67%) followed by house crickets (37.90%), giant water bugs (27.17%), short-tail crickets (23.33%), and silkworm pupae (20.23%). The majority of commonly consumed fried insects (72%) contained levels safe for human exposure. Grasshoppers and house crickets were the only types of insects with toxicity levels unsafe for human exposure (unsafe levels found in 80% and 60% of vendors, respectively). The degree of insecticide residue toxicity detected in consumed insects in Phitsanulok, Thailand, could potentially increase the risk of poisoning from human consumption.

Keywords

Organophosphate and carbamate; Insecticide; Commonly consumed insect; Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

---