Residue analysis of fosthiazate in cucumber and soil by QuEChERS and GC-MS

A convenient method was developed for the determination and validation of fosthiazate in cucumber and soil. The procedure is based on liquid partitioning with acetonitrile followed by dispersive solid phase extraction as the clean-up step, after which samples were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The average recoveries ranged from 91.2 % to 99.0 % with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 6.05 %, at three fortification levels (0.02 mg kg^?1, 0.1 mg kg^?1, 0.5 mg kg^?1) in cucumber and soil, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) for fosthiazate were all established at 0.02 mg kg^?1. The proposed method was applied successfully to analyses of the dissipation and residue of fosthiazate in field trials. The dissipation rate of fosthiazate was described using pseudo-first-order kinetics with a half-life of 4.33 days and 4.08 days in soil in Beijing and Shandong, respectively. In the terminal residue experiment, fosthiazate residues in cucumber and soil were clearly below the maximum residue level (MRL, 0.2 mg kg^?1) set in China.     

Evaluation of Dissipation Behavior,Residues, and Dietary Risk Assessment of Fludioxonil in Cherry via QuEChERS Using HPLC-MS/MS Technique

The chemical fungicide fludioxonil is widely used to control post-harvest fungal disease in cherries. This study was implemented to investigate the dissipation behaviours and residues of fludioxonil on cherries. A reliable and efficient analytical method was established. Cherry samples from four product areas were analyzed by QuEChERS and HPLC-MS/MS methods with acceptable linearity (R² > 0.99), accuracy (recoveries of 81–94%), and precision (relative standard deviation of 2.5–11.9%). The limits of quantification (LOQs) and limits of detection (LODs) of cherries were 0.01 mg/kg and 0.005 mg/kg. The dissipation of fludioxonil on cherries followed first order kinetics with half-lives of 33.7–44.7 days. The terminal residues of fludioxonil were all lower than 5.00 mg/kg, which is the MRL recommended by the European Commission. According to Chinese dietary patterns and terminal residue distributions, the risk quotient (RQs) of fludioxonil was 0.61%, revealing that the evaluated cherries exhibited an acceptably low dietary risk to consumers.     

Determination of fungicide residues in white grapes for winemaking by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and assessment of matrix effects

A new analytical method, based on organic solvent extraction with dichloromethane-acetone (75 + 25, v/v) followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, is presented for the determination of residues of 10 fungicides in white grapes for vinification. Some of them (cyprodinil, fludioxonil, and pyrimethanil) have been used for only 2-3 years and, therefore, no methods are available in the scientific literature for such a screening. Quality parameters yielded good precision (relative standard deviation of <10%) and detection limits (ranging between 1 and 18 microg/kg) that are lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the 76/895/European Economic Community (EEC) and 90/642/EEC Directives. The applicability of the method was evaluated by analysis of 5 different white grapes produced in the Rías Baixas area in Galicia (northwestern Spain) for vinification. The method showed good performance in analyses of real samples to determine whether the concentrations of the fungicides used exceeded their MRLs. The method of standard additions was found to be necessary to avoid matrix effects in the quantification of fungicide residues. Results showed that concentrations of the fungicides identified in grapes were lower than the MRLs established by the European legislation.     

Simultaneous determination of aminopyralid, clopyralid, and picloram residues in vegetables and fruits using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and effective method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of aminopyralid, clopyralid, and picloram in vegetables (eggplant, cucumber, and tomato) and fruits (apple and grape) was developed and validated using ultra-performance LC coupled with MS/MS. The three herbicides were successfully separated and independently confirmed in a single run. Different extraction and cleanup methods were used to optimize the pretreatment processes of the residue analysis method. The final method is straightforward and involves extraction with 1% formic acid-acetonitrile, and no complicated cleanup process is needed. Determination of the compounds was achieved within 3.0 min. Respective average recoveries using this method at four concentration levels (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg) ranged from 66.5 to 109.4%, with RSDs in the range of 1.1-19.7% (n = 5) for all analytes. The LODs were below 0.010 mg/kg, and the LOQs did not exceed 0.036 mg/kg, which were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of 0.5-5.0 mg/kg clopyralid in vegetables and fruits samples, as established by the European Union. This study provides a theoretical basis for China to develop MRLs and an analytical method for aminopyralid, clopyralid, and picloram in vegetables and fruits.     

Determination of five pesticide residues in oranges by matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography to estimate daily intake of consumers.

Residues of benzoylphenylurea insecticides (diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron, and flufenuxuron), carboxamide acaricides (hexythiazox), and carbamate insecticides (benfuracarb) were determined in 150 orange fruit samples from September 1998 to June 1999, to estimate exposure of the Valencian population to oranges contaminated with these newly developed pesticides. The method for monitoring these residues is based on matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography with UV or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry (APCI/MS) detection. Orange samples representing 11 varieties were collected from an agricultural cooperative and examined for the 5 pesticides. In 74.6% of all analyzed samples, the pesticide residues were below detection limits, which ranged from 0.002 to 0.05 mg/kg. Residues were detected in 25.4% of the samples, with higher incidences of diflubenzuron, flufenuxuron, hexythiazox, and benfuracarb; hexaflumuron residues were detected only occasionally. Two different pesticides exceeded maximum residue limits (MRLs) in 4 (2.7%) of the orange samples. Diflubenzuron surpassed 1 mg/kg MRL in 3 samples and flufenuxuron exceeded the 0.3 mg/kg MRL in 3 samples. The estimated daily intake of the 5 pesticide residues during the period was 0.077 microg/kg body weight per day. This value is much lower than the total admissible daily intake proposed by the Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization.     

Analysis of Pesticide Residues by QuEChERS Method and LC-MS/MS for a New Extrapolation of Maximum Residue Levels in Persimmon Minor Crop

According to EU guidance SANCO/7525/VI/95 Rev. 10.3, residue data extrapolation from a surrogate major crop to a minor crop can be used for setting maximum residue levels (MRLs) with a reduced number of residue trials and representative selected pesticides. In this work, a QuEChERS method (citrate-buffered version and PSA with MgSO₄ clean-up) and LC-ESI-MS/MS for the determination of boscalid, pyraclostrobin, fludioxonil, fluopyram and tebuconazole in persimmon was developed and validated according to EU Commission guidelines and afterwards used for the determination of residues in four field trials. Residue levels at harvest for each pesticide ranged between 0.347 and 0.028 mg/kg. After comparing EFSA residue data on apples, as the surrogate major crop, and conducting a consumer risk assessment, a proposal of residue data extrapolation to set MRLs in persimmons was performed. The results showed that pesticide residues in persimmons at harvest were consistently lower than residues in apples when substances were applied according to the same critical GAP. MRLs were set at 0.5 mg/kg for fludioxonil, 0.6 mg/kg for boscalid, 0.3 mg/kg for tebuconazole, 0.4 mg/kg for fluopyran and 0.3 mg/kg for pyraclostrobin. The ratio of the MRLs for apple/persimmon varied between 2.5 for boscalid and 1.25 for fluopyram, suggesting that residue extrapolation can be feasible, promoting the process of pesticide registration for minor crops and the settlement of MRL.     

Multiresidue method for the rapid determination--in grape, must and wine--of fungicides frequently used on vineyards

A rapid multiresidue gas chromatographic method for determining 17 fungicides in grapes, must and wine, widely used on vineyards, is described. A simple on-line microextraction method for isolation of fungicides was used. Nitrogen-phosphorus and electron-capture detection were used for the identification and quantitation of pesticides. For confirmation, mass spectrometic detection was used. Because of the high selectivity of both detection methods, no clean-up was necessary. The regression coefficients relating to linearity were at least 0.994. Recoveries from spiked grapes, must and wine samples ranged from 78 to 107% and relative standard deviations were not higher than 14%. Individual detection limits were in the range 0.02-0.1 ng. Limits of quantification varied from 0.01 to 0.05 mg/kg, smaller in all cases than the maximum residue limits set down by the legislations of Spain, France and Italy, the main wine-producing countries of the European Union. Only for fludioxonil and hexaconazole do the limits of quantification coincide with the maximum residue limits (0.05 mg/kg) established by the Spanish legislation.     

Analysis of post-harvest fungicides by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was developed for the simultaneous determination of carbendazim, imazalil, methylthiophanate, O-phenylphenol, prochloraz, procimidone, thiabendazole and triadimefon residues in grape, lettuce, orange and tomato. Selectivity and resolution were studied changing the pH and the concentration of the buffer, the type and concentration of surfactant and the methanol content in the mobile phase. A buffer consisting of 4 mM borate with 75 mM sodium cholate (pH 9.2) gave the best results. The recoveries of the fungicides in spiked fruit and vegetable samples ranged from 30 to 105%, and the limits of detection were between 0.1 and 1 mg kg(-1). The reproducibility and repeatability of the combination of SPE pretreatment and MEKC were good for all the compounds, except for imazalil and O-phenylphenol in oranges, due to some matrix compounds interfering with the separation. The method was applied to post harvest treated samples, and the fungicides were sometimes detected at concentration levels lower than maximum residue limits (MRLs).     

Determination of spiroxamine residues in grapes, must, and wine by gas chromatography/ion trap-mass spectrometry

Analytical methodology was developed and validated for the determination of spiroxamine residues in grapes, must, and wine by gas chromatography/ion trap-mass spectrometry (GC/IT-MS). Two extraction procedures were used: the first involved grapes, must, and wine extraction with alkaline cyclohexane-dichloromethane (9 + 1, v/v) solution, and the second grape extraction with acetone, dichloromethane, and petroleum ether. In both procedures, the extract was centrifuged, evaporated to dryness, and reconstituted in cyclohexane or 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-toluene (9 + 1, v/v), respectively. Spiroxamine diastereomers A and B were determined by GC/IT-MS, and a matrix effect was observed in the case of grapes but not in must and wine. Recovery of spiroxamine from fortified samples at 0.02 to 5.0 mg/kg ranged from 78-102% for grapes and must, with relative standard deviation (RSD) <13%; for red and white wines, recoveries ranged from 90 to 101% with RSD <9%. The limit of quantification was 0.02 mg/kg for grapes, must, and wine or 0.10 mg/kg for grapes, depending on the extraction procedure used.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of benzoylurea insecticides residues in grapes and wine using liquid and solid-phase extraction

A method for the determination of the benzoylurea insecticides diflubenzuron, triflumuron, teflubenzuron, lufenuron and flufenoxuron in grapes and wine by HPLC has been developed and validated. Grape samples (50 g) were homogenized and extracted with ethyl acetate-sodium sulfate and further cleaned-up by solid-phase extraction on silica sorbent. Wine samples (10 ml) diluted with water (1:3) were solid-phase extracted on an octadecyl sorbent using methanol as the eluent. The pesticides were separated on a reversed-phase octadecyl narrow-bore column by gradient elution and the residues were determined with a UV diode array detector. The calibration plots were linear over the range 0.05-5 micrograms/ml. Recoveries of benzoylurea pesticides from spiked grapes (0.02-2.0 mg/kg) and wine (0.01-0.2 mg/l) were 85.8-101.6% and 69.1-104.8%, respectively, and the limits of quantification for these insecticides were < 0.01 mg/kg for grapes and < 0.01 mg/l for wine. The method was applied to the determination of flufenoxuron and teflubenzuron residues in grapes from treated fields and in produced wine.     

Simultaneous determination of boscalid and fludioxonil in grape and soil under field conditions by gas chromatography/tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to simultaneously determine boscalid and fludioxonil in grape and soil samples. These samples were extracted with 10 mL of acetonitrile and purified using a mixed primary secondary amine/octadecylsilane sorbent. The method showed good linearity (R² > 0.99) in the calibration range 0.005–2 μg/mL for both pesticides. The limits of detection and quantification for the two analytes in grape and soil were 0.006 and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. Fungicide recoveries in grape and soil were 81.18–92.11% for boscalid and 82.73–97.67% for fludioxonil with relative standard deviations of 1.31–10.31%. The established method was successfully applied to the residual analysis of boscalid and fludioxonil in real grape and soil samples. The terminal residue concentrations of boscalid and fludioxonil in grape samples collected from Anhui and Guizhou were <5 mg/kg (the maximum residue limit set by China) 7 days after the last application and 1 mg/kg (the maximum residue limit set by USA) 14 days after the last application. These results could provide guidance for the proper and safe use of boscalid and fludioxonil in grape and help the Chinese government to establish an MRL for fludioxonil in grape.     

Pesticide residue determination in vegetables from western China applying gas chromatography with mass spectrometry

In this study,an effort has been made to evaluate the pesticide residues in vegetables from western China. Fifty‐one pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate and pyrethroid, were detected in 369 commonly used vegetables by GC‐MS. Concentrations of organophosphorus pesticides were detected ranging from 0.0008 to 18.8200 mg/kg, among which organophosphorus pesticide concentrations exceeded their maximum residue levels (MRLs) in five samples. Carbamate and organochlorine pesticides were determined to have concentrations in the range of 0.0012–0.7928 mg/kg. The residual concentrations of carbamate pesticides in six samples and organochlorine pesticides in four samples exceeded their MRLs. The residual concentrations of five pyrethroid pesticides were within the range of 0.0016–6.0827 mg/kg and the pyrethroid residues in two samples exceeded their MRLs. The results revealed that pesticide residues in 70.73% of the vegetables samples were not detected, while in the rest of vegetables there were one or more pesticide residues and some even exceeded their MRLs, which would threaten the health of consumers. Our work provides significant information for the food safety regulations to control the excessive use of some pesticides on those kinds of vegetables from western China. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

低温冷冻及分散固相萃取净化-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定植物油中104种农药残留

建立了适用于植物油中104种农药残留的检测方法。通过液液萃取(LLE)提取目标化合物,再借助离心、冷冻和分散固相萃取(D-SPE)净化手段,依托超高效液相色谱-串联质谱测定。以回收率和共提取物为衡量指标,着重优化了6种提取方式、不同冷冻时间及PSA(primary secondary amine)、GCB(graphite carbon black)和C18这3种不同固相萃取填料不同组合的效果。在0.01、0.02和0.05 mg/kg水平的平均添加回收率为55%~121%, RSD为0.47%~19.2%, 80%的目标物的定量限可达到1 μg/kg,低于我国相关标准限量,能够满足多种农药残留同时分析的要求。该方法步骤简便、可靠、稳定,可应用于进口植物油中多种农药残留的快速检测与确证的日常检测工作中,具有一定的推广价值。     

Determination of carbamate residues in fruits and vegetables by matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Thirteen carbamates were analysed in orange, grape, onion and tomatoes by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Electrospray (ES) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) were compared and both gave similar results in terms of sensitivity and structural information because at 20 V fragmentor voltages the fragmentation is minimal. The efficiency of different solid-phases (C18, C8, cyano, amine and phenyl) for the MSPD was compared. Mean recoveries using C8 varied from 64 to 106% with relative standard deviations of 5-15% in the concentration range of 0.01-10 mg kg(-1). Matrix constituents did not interfere significantly with the ionisation process of carbamates. The limits of detection were typically in the 0.001-0.01 mg kg(-1) range, which were between 10 and 100 times lower than the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established by the European Union (EU). The method was applied to residue detection in fruit and vegetable samples taken from Valencian markets, in which carbamates were detected at low concentrations.     

Multiresidue method for fourteen fungicides in white grapes by liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-diode array detection

A quantitative, selective and sensitive HPLC method for the analysis of 14 fungicides in white grapes for vinification is described. The proposed method is based on liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography and diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Dichloromethane-acetone (75:25, v/v) was the most appropriate solvent mix for extracting fungicides in white grapes. Silica cartridges resulted the most appropriate for extract purification purposes. Quality parameters of the proposed multiresidue method presented good recovery (ca. 85% for almost all target compounds) and precision (between 1.5 and 16%), and detection limits lower than maxima residual limits set by the 76/895/ECC and 90/642/ECC Directive. Five different white grapes for vinification produced in Rias Baixas area in Galicia (NW Spain) were analyzed in order to assess the performance of the method with real samples and to determine whether the concentration of the pesticides used exceed their maxima residue levels (MRLs). Results showed that grape concentrations for those identified fungicides were lower than those established by European legislation.     

Application of hollow fiber supported liquid membrane extraction to the simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in vegetables by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new analytical procedure using a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in vegetables by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry (MS). The extraction technique requires minimal sample preparation and solvent consumption. Optimum extraction conditions have been evaluated with respect to sample pH, ionic strength, liquid membrane composition, extraction time, stirring rate and acceptor composition. The extraction method has been validated for matrices such as cucumber, tomato and pepper, indicating that cucumber can be selected as representative matrix for routine analysis of these food commodities. Linear ranges of pesticides in vegetable samples were 10 to 200 microg/kg, and the repeatability of the method was less than 20% for the lowest calibration point. The limits of detection ranged from 0.06 to 2.7 microg/kg and the limits of quantification from 0.2 to 9.0 microg/kg, which were low enough to determine the pesticide residues at concentrations below or equal to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) specified by European Union. The method was finally applied to the determination of more than 20 pesticides in market vegetable samples and the concentrations found in these samples were always lower than the MRLs. This new approach can be considered as a powerful alternative to the traditional extraction techniques.     

Simultaneous Determination of Flonicamid and its Metabolites in Tea by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

An analytical method was established to simultaneously quantify flonicamid and its metabolites 4-trifluoromethylnicotinic acid (TFNA), N-(4-trifluoromethylnicotinoyl) glycine (TFNG), and 4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide (TFNA-AM) in tea using orthogonal experimental design and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Residues were extracted from the samples with acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid and were purified with graphitized carbon black. The linearity of the method was excellent in the concentration range of 0.01–10?µg/mL, producing correlation coefficients greater than 0.996 for the target compounds. The limits of detection and quantification of all analytes in tea were 0.0013–0.013?mg/kg and 0.004–0.040?mg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries of flonicamid, TFNA, TFNG, and TFNA-AM ranged from 75.14 to 92.72%, with intra- and interday relative standard deviations of 1.07–9.75%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the terminal residue determination of flonicamid and its metabolites in dry tea processed from three field trials’ fresh samples. The determined total terminal residue concentrations of flonicamid 10?days after the last application at all three sites were below the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by the European Union (0.1?mg/kg) and the residues in all samples were lower than the MRL established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (8?mg/kg). This method may be used to meet the requirements for the determination of flonicamid and its metabolites that could provide guidance for establishing a MRL for flonicamid in tea in China.     

Liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry multi-residue determination of pesticides in apples and pears

This paper describes a rapid, specific and sensitive multi-residue method for the routine quantitative analysis of pesticides of several classes used for the treatment of apples and pears, down to their respective maximum residue limits (MRLs). It involves a rapid extraction procedure and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray mass selective detection. Seven pesticides were extracted at pH 4.5 with a mixture of acetone-dichloromethane-hexane (50:20:30, v/v/v). Ionization was performed at atmospheric pressure in an electrospray-type source and detection was carried out using the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Extraction recoveries were between 55 and 98% except for methylthiophanate (< 20%). Limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged, respectively, from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/kg and from 0.02 to 0.05 mg/kg, with relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) less than 19%. An excellent linearity was observed for LOQs up to 5 mg/kg. Intermediate ("inter-assay") precision and accuracy were satisfactory. The method was applied to many fruit samples intended for commercialization.     

Fate of hexaconazole and isoprothiolane in rice,soil and water under field conditions

Residue dissipation of hexaconazole and isoprothiolane in the rice field ecosystem was determined by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector. Hexaconazole and isoprothiolane (33% microemulsion) were applied at two dosages, 396 g a.i. ha^–1 (the recommended dosage) and 594 g a.i. ha^–1 (1.5 times the recommended dosage) in the experimental fields in Guizhou, Hunan and Heilongjiang provinces, China, during 2011–2012. The limits of detection and limits of quantification in brown rice were 0.006 and 0.02 mg kg^–1 for hexaconazole, 0.0072 and 0.024 mg kg^–1 for isoprothiolane, respectively, and they were much below the maximum residue limits (MRLs, 0.1 mg kg^–1 for hexaconazole and 1.0 mg kg^–1 for isoprothiolane) set by China. Average recoveries of hexaconazole in water, soil, rice plants and brown rice ranged from 77.3% to 93.8% and for isoprothiolane ranged from 78.1% to 99.9% with relative standard deviations < 10%. The results showed that during harvest, the terminal residue levels of hexaconazole and isoprothiolane in brown rice samples were well below the MRLs of China following the interval of 7 days after last application. Therefore, a dosage of 396 g a.i. ha^–1 was recommended, which could be considered as safe to human beings.     

桃中农药残留分析及膳食暴露评估研究

为明确并量化食用桃途径的农药膳食摄入风险水平,通过对19个桃主产区采集的98份样品进行农药残留检测,对桃中的农药残留急/慢性膳食摄入风险进行评估,并借鉴英国兽药残留委员会兽药残留风险排序矩阵进行农药和样品风险排序。结果在桃中检出了38种农药残留,98个样品的检出率为95.9%,检出的农药含量为0.007 4～3.399 3 mg/kg;检出农药的慢性膳食摄入风险(%ADI)和急性膳食摄入风险(%ARfD)的平均值分别为0.89%和11.09%,风险均低于100%,不会对人体产生慢性或急性风险;风险排序结果表明桃果品中氟虫腈、硫丹、灭多威、丁硫克百威、毒死蜱、联苯菊酯为6种为高风险农药,应在生产和质量安全监管中予以重点关注。该文为桃安全消费、农药残留监管和农药最大残留限量(MRLs)制修订提供了科学依据。