Pesticide and Herbicide Residue Testing

1. Classification of Pesticides on Textiles

Pesticides are organic compounds used to control insects, weeds, and diseases in plants. These pesticides are classified by target organisms into insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.; by chemical properties, they can be categorized into organochlorines (OCPs), organophosphates (OPPs), pyrethroids, phenoxycarboxylic acid herbicides, carbamates and thiocarbamates, triazine herbicides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

2. Sources of Pesticides on Textiles

(1) Insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides that may be used during the cultivation of fiber crops.

(2) Various finishing agents used in textile production and processing, such as synergists, repellents, and antifungal agents. For example, polyester fibers dyed by the carrier method under normal temperature and pressure may use toxic organochlorine carriers. Some also contain insecticides or mothproofing agents, which are used as processing requirements for functional textiles.

3. Hazards of Pesticides in Textiles

The main sources of pesticide residues in natural plant fibers are as follows: various pesticides and insecticides used during cultivation. These residues often cannot be completely eliminated. Even though some residues are removed during processing, a portion still remains in the textiles. These residues pose certain risks to human health, such as causing skin allergies, respiratory diseases, and even more severe issues like poisoning. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct thorough testing for residues during the processing stage.