A total of 57 banana samples harvested and commercialised in
the local markets and supermarkets of the Canary Islands (Spain)
were analysed in order to determine the presence or absence of a
group of 11 pesticides (10 of them OPPs). Chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion,
malathion and buprofezin were the only ones detected at concentrations
below their MRLs (except for two samples that
contained slightly higher levels of fenitrothion). Although chlorpyrifos
was detected in most of the samples (88%), the analysis
of the peel and pulp separately revealed that most of the pesticide
remains in the peel and does not penetrate inside the fruit. To the
best of our knowledge, this work represents the first study concerning
the occurrence of pesticides in bananas from the Canary
Islands. A future study in a longer period of time would allow
obtaining a deeper knowledge about the fulfillment of banana productors
of the Canary Islands of EU regulations with respect to the
use of pesticides and their presence in this fruit.