While Costa Rica is known for having the highest pesticide use per hectare of crop land in the world, the country's authorities have given a positive assessment for the pineapple industry's chemical control practices for the fruit itself.

Tests conducted by the Phytosanitary Service of the State of Costa Rica (SFE) showed pineapple growers were successful in producing fruit that fell within the maximum residue limits (MRL) allowed for human consumption, with an improved result on last year's survey.

SFE said 70% of pineapples didn't have measurable pesticide residues, while the rest had residues but they were below the maximum levels permitted.

SFE good agricultural practices unit head Marco Vinicia Jiménez said samples were taken from plantations, packhouses and markets.

"This work is done by the SFE with the main products for national consumption, with the aim of guaranteeing consumers ingest products that cause no harm to their health," the official said.

In 2013, 94% of products complied with MRLs, and out of that amount, more than two thirds did not have measurable signs of agrochemicals.

Elsewhere in Costa Rica, concern has been raised after a recent study showed high pesticide rates in the urine of pregnant women in one of the country's Caribbean banana-growing zones.

Press agency EFE reported on a study conducted by the National University's Regional Institute for Toxic Substances (IRET-UNA) in Matina, Limón, which found high levels of ethylene thiourea (ETU) in urine samples.

The story reported the chemical was a derivative of the pesticide mancozeb, which is applied on banana plantations.

"The ETU levels that we found in the women is worrying if you compare to other countries. In comparison to conutries like the United States, Italy and England, the amount of ETU on average is around five times higher," IRET-UNA researcher Berna van Wendel told EFE.

The study found that in 75% of the women studied, levels of ETU that entered the body daily were higher than references set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the story reported.

The study also found 10% of the women had levels of ETU that were up to three times higher than the EPA's reference point, set under the agency's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).

The story reported the tests were taken between March, 2010 and June, 2011 with 445 women.

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