These are safe, it was found in a study done by researchers of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz Science City, Nueva Ecija.
The researchers–D.S. Paragas, D.P. Peñalosa Jr., and A.C. Roxas–recorded their findings in a joint report titled "Farming practices adopted by farmers: Its implication to pesticide residue content and quality of key commercial crops in Region III".
In the study, they used the UPLB-NCPC (UP Los Baños-National Crop Protection Center) rapid field test kit for determining organochlorines, organophosphate, and carbamate pesticide residues to measure the amount of pesticide residues in rice, onion, garlic, bitter gourd (ampalaya), eggplant, and string beans.
Two banned chemical pesticides–organochlorines and pyrethroids–were not found in all the crops tested.
Carbamate residues, specifically carbofuradan and carbaryl, were detected in rice at levels ranging from 0.005 to 0.020 microgram per gram (ug/g) of the sample; and 0.005-0.010 ug/g in onion and eggplant.
The residue levels were within the allowed maximum residue level (MRL), the researchers attested.
Carbaryl residues detected in garlic and string beans ranged from 0.005 to 0.010 ug/g, also within the MRL.
Organophosphate residues were detected in rice and string beans at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.02 ug/g; in eggplant, 0.01 ug/g; and in bitter gourd, 0.02 ug/g. These levels were within the MRL, the researchers said. – Rudy A. Fernandez