Evaluation of pesticide residues in vegetables from Mekong, Delta, Vietnam using LC-MS/MS

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the levels of pesticide residues in commonly used vegetables in Vietnam as a reference for future monitoring.
 Methods: A total of 180 samples of six different fresh vegetables including watercress, mustard green, choy sum, daikon, okra, and yam were analyzed from Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Ten popular pesticides were evaluated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after extraction with a multi-residue method (QuEChERS method).
 Results: The results were assessed according to the maximum residue limit (MRL) provided by Codex for each pesticide in each commodity. Pesticide residues above the MRL were detected in 107 samples (59 %) and 63 samples (47 %) contained residues below the MRL. Multiple residues were present in 38.3% of the samples with two to five pesticides, and 0.6 % of samples were contaminated with more than five pesticide residues. Of the pesticides investigated, eight pesticides were detected, of which abamectin, alpha-cypermethrin, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos- ethyl, chlorantraniliprole, fenobucarb, fipronil, and trichlorfon exceeded their MRLs. Pesticide residues were detected above MRLs in samples of watercress (14 samples), mustard green (24 samples), choy sum (25 samples), daikon (26 samples), and yam (18 samples). Chlorpyrifos-ethyl, and fipronil were detected in most of the vegetable samples (100% and 89.44%, respectively).
 Conclusion: The results indicate the occurrence of pesticide residues in commonly consumed vegetables in Vietnam. The need for the regular monitoring of pesticide residues and the sensitization of farmers to better pesticide safety practices, especially the need to adhere to recommended pre-harvest intervals is recommended.

Evaluation of pesticide residues in selected vegetables from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using modified QuEChERS and assessment of washing methods

“…The percentage of MRL violation (13.3%) observed in the present work was higher as compared to other studies from Korea (1.4%) and Poland (1.8%) (Yu et al, 2018;Yi et al, 2020). On the contrary, Asian countries such as Vietnam (59%) and Thailand (24%) reported MRL violations at higher rates than those reported in the present work (Sapbamrer and Hongsibsong, 2014;Nguyen et al, 2021). Total samples > MRL 8 (13.3) ND = not detectable; and MRL = maximum residue limit.…”

Quality Control of Pesticide Residue Measurements and Evaluation of Their Results

“…To control the safe and efficient use of pesticides, their residues are regularly monitored in food and environmental samples in many countries according to risk-based sampling plans [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] or targeted surveillance with limited scope and sampling targets. For example, the world-wide activities are demonstrated with some selected publications from Argentina to Vietnam [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. In the European Union the largest number of residues tested within the EU-coordinated and national pesticide residue monitoring programs were reported in 2020 by Luxembourg (659), Malta (643), Germany (626), France (619) and Belgium (617) [ 47 ].…”

“…Most publications referenced above [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ] mainly reported minor modifications in sample preparation procedures of the original QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method [ 52 ] and often provided details of the conditions of the MS mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Other authors reported various combinations of sample preparation [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ].…”