Multiresidue Determination of Pesticides in Fruit and Vegetables by Gas Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables were determined by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Electron impact (EI)/MS/MS and chemical ionization (CI)/MS/MS were developed for 80 compounds, including organochlorine, organophosphorus, organonitrogen, and pyrethroids, providing unambiguous spectral confirmation for these complex matrixes. Residues were extracted from samples with acetone followed by a mixture of dichloromethane–petroleum ether. Two injections per sample were required for analysis of the entire pesticide list by EI/MS/MS and CI/MS/MS.Initial steps involving cleanup and concentration of extracts were eliminated. The excellent selectivity and good linearity allowed quantification and identification of low levels of pesticides in the most difficult matrixes. The method has been used for routine analysis of many vegetables.

Residue analysis of 500 high priority pesticides: Better by GC–MS or LC–MS/MS?

“…Even with extracts of tobacco, excellent selectivity and sensitivity were observed (Haib, Hofer, & Renaud, 2003). MS/MS experiments can be performed using ion trap (Gamon et al, 2001; Aguera et al, 2002; Martinez Vidal, Arrebola, & Mateu‐Sanchez, 2002) and triple quadrupole mass analyzers (Leandro, Fussell, & Keely, 2005). Some limitations in GC–MS/MS arise from the absence of a universal soft ionization mode, which could be used for the efficient production of molecular ions of most pesticide classes.…”

Measurement of pesticide residues in peppers by near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy

“…Increasing consumer awareness of food safety issues has prompted an urgent need to develop analytical methods enabling swift screening for pesticide residues in foods. The techniques most commonly used at present for pesticide residue analysis in fruit and vegetables are gas chromatography,6, 7 gas and liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry,8, 9 capillary electrophoresis10 and immunoassay 11, 12…”

Pesticide residues in Junca Onion (Allium fistulosum) cultivated in Risaralda, Colombia

“…According to the methodology described by Gamón, Lleó and Ten (2001), with some modifications: 2.5 g of the homogenised sample was taken, 5 mL of acetone was added at a 1:2 (m/v) sample-solvent ratio…”

“…According to the methodology described by Gamón, Lleó and Ten (2001), with some modifications: 2.5 g of the homogenised sample was taken, 5 mL of acetone was added at a 1:2 (m/v) sample solvent ratio and it was homogenised for 1 min. Subsequently, 10 mL of a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of dichloromethane petroleum ether was added and homogenised for 1 min.…”