Rapid multiresidue screening method for organophosphate pesticides in vegetables

Summary A rapid and efficient multiresidue extraction procedure using ethyl acetate and sodium sulfate has been applied to the analysis of diazinon, methamidophos, chlorpyrifos, malathion, parathion, parathion-methyl, dimethoate and monocrotophos residues in many different kinds of vegetables. No cleanup step was required Concentrated extracts were analysed by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection in phosphorus mode. Recovery studies were performed in six kinds of matrices at two fortification levels. Recoveries were in the range 80–115%. The limit of quantification of the analytical method has been estimated as 0.01 ppm for diazinon, methamidophos and malathion, 0.03 ppm for chlorpyrifos, parathion, parathion-methyl and dimethoate and 0.1 ppm for monocrotophos. Experiments showed that potentially it should be possible to develop a rapid and universally applicable method for organophosphate pesticide residues in different matrices.