Radiotracer study of zineb residues in egg plant-soil systems

In view of the widespread use of zineb on food plants and the toxicity of one of its metabolites, ethylenethiourea (ETU), a study of this agrofungicide in plant-soil systems was conducted. The half-life values for total zineb residues on egg-plant leaves and in soil were calculated to be 22.4 and 16.0 days, respectively. Egg-plant skin contained higher amounts of zineb residues than the fruit pulp. Washing with water could greatly reduce zineb residue levels, present on the fruit skin. Compared with zineb, ETU is much easier to be taken up by the egg-plant and to leach into deeper layers of soil due to its water solubility. In soil-plant studies using artemisia plant, the uptake from soil did not exceed 3% zineb and 5% ETU after 3 weeks. (author). 4 refs, 5 tabs