Properties and determination of pesticides in fruits and vegetables

The intensive development of agriculture means that more and more toxic organic and inorganic compounds are entering the environment. Because of their widespread use, stability, selective toxicity and bioaccumulation, pesticides are among the most toxic substances contaminating the environment. They are particularly dangerous in fruit and vegetables, by which people are exposed to them. It is therefore crucial to monitor pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables using all available analytical methods.We set out the problems in the determination of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides in samples of fruit and vegetables, including the complexity and the diversity of matrices in biological materials, and the very low level of pesticides present, as a result of which target analytes have to be isolated and then enriched prior to final determination.We discuss the various stages in the determination of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables. We present results from the literature in the context of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) of target pesticides in fruit and vegetable samples. We discuss the merits of the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) technique and two-dimensional gas chromatography.     

蔬菜、水果中12种限量有机磷农药残留量测定方法

建立了蔬菜、水果中12种限量有机磷农药的提取、净化及毛细管柱气相色谱测定法。目标农药经乙腈萃取,弗罗里硅土柱净化,浓缩后用带火焰光度检测器(FPD)的双塔双柱气相色谱测定,前柱(DB-17)定量,后柱(DB-1)定性。12种农药线性良好,线性相关系数大于0.9990,对蔬菜、水果添加0.01～0.1mg/kg的水平,12种有机磷的平均回收率在70.9%～119.9%之间,相对标准偏差0.12%～12%,本方法的最低检测限0.005～0.05mg/kg。     

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatographic methods

A new extraction and cleanup procedure with gas chromatography was developed for the sensitive determination of acephate, dimethoate, malathion, diazinon, quinalphos, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, chlorothalonil and carbaryl using 1-chloro-4-fluorobenzene as an internal standard in fruits and vegetables. Several extracting and eluting solvents for solid-phase extraction were investigated. The overall extracting solvent with a mixture of acetone:ethyl acetate:hexane (10:80:10, v/v/v) and a eluting solvent of 5% acetone in hexane used with the RPC18 cartridge gave the best recovery for all of the investigated pesticides, and minimized the interference from co-extractants. Under the optimal extraction and clean-up conditions, recoveries of 85 - 99% with RSD < 5.0% (n = 3) for most of the pesticides at the 0.02 - 0.5 mg/kg level were obtained. The limit of detection was between 0.005 - 0.01 mg/kg and the limit of quantification was 0.01 mg/kg. This analytical procedure was characterized with high accuracy and acceptable sensitivity to meet requirements for monitoring pesticides in crops.     

Application of gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to the analysis of pesticides in fruits and vegetables

A new analytical method was devised using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) for the routine analysis of 31 multi-class pesticide residues and approximately 8000 fresh fruit and vegetable samples (green bean, cucumber, pepper, tomato, eggplant, watermelon, melon, and marrow). Extraction of the pesticides with dichloromethane was carried out. The optimal ionization mode, either electron impact or chemical ionization, was selected for each pesticide in the same run. Carbofrit was used in the liner and combined with the selectivity of the detector this avoided additional clean-up. Thus, not only was money and time saved, the uncertainty of the method was decreased in its application to routine analysis. The average recoveries in cucumber obtained for each pesticide ranged between 71 and 119% at two different fortification levels (n=10 each) that ranged between 7 and 300 ng g(-1) (depending on the pesticide). The relative standard deviation was lower than 19% for all compounds tested. The calculated limits of detection and quantification were typically <1 ng g(-1) which were much lower than the maximum residue levels established by European legislations.     

Application of gas chromatography/tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry to the multi-residue analysis of pesticides in green leafy vegetables

A new, sensitive and specific method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 129 pesticides in lettuce and other green leafy vegetables. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile and co-extractives such as fatty acids and pigments were removed using dispersive solid-phase extraction (dispersive-SPE) with primary secondary amine (PSA) and graphitized carbon black (GCB). All pesticides were analyzed in a single injection gas chromatography/tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) acquisition method. Two multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions of precursor ions fragmenting into product ions were recorded for the targeted pesticides, thus fulfilling the EU identification points system criteria for the identification of contaminants (2002/657/EC). Calibration curves were determined using matrix-matched standards, and exhibited excellent linearity at two orders of magnitude from 0.005 to 0.5 mg/kg for almost all the pesticides studied (R(2) > or = 0.99). The analytical performance was demonstrated by the analysis of lettuce samples spiked at five concentration levels ranging from 0.005 to 0.5 mg/kg for each pesticide. The recovery and repeatability results satisfied SANCO/2007/3131 criteria (i.e. average recoveries were in the range 70-120% with RSDs < or =20%) for 114 of the 129 pesticides at the 0.005 mg/kg spiking level, and for almost all pesticides at the higher spiking levels. The methodology was applied successfully to identify and quantify pesticide residues in leafy vegetable samples such as lettuce, cabbage and leek.     

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in vegetables and fruits using a high capacity absorbent polymer for water

A single extraction and a single clean-up procedure was developed for multi-residue analysis of pesticides in non-fatty vegetables and fruits. The method involves the use of a high capacity absorbent polymer for water as a drying agent in extraction from wet food samples and of a graphitized carbon column for clean-up. A homogeneously chopped food sample (20 g) and polymer (3 g) were mixed to absorb water from the sample and then 10 min later the mixture was vigorously extracted with ethyl acetate (100 ml). The extract (50 ml), separated by filtration, was loaded on a graphitized carbon column without concentration. Additional ethyl acetate (50 ml) was also eluted and both eluates were concentrated to 5 ml for analysis. The procedure for sample preparation was completed within 2 h. In a recovery test, 107 pesticides were spiked and average recoveries were more than 80% from asparagus, orange, potato and strawberry. Most pesticides were recovered in the range 70-120% with usually less than a 10% RSD for six experiments. The results indicated that a single extraction with ethyl acetate in the presence of polymer can be applied to the monitoring of pesticide residues in foods.     

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in vegetables and fruits using two-layered column with graphitized carbon and water absorbent polymer

A high-throughput multiresidue analysis of pesticides in non-fatty vegetables and fruits was developed. The method consisted of a single extraction and a single clean-up procedure. Food samples were extracted with ethyl acetate and the mixture of extract and food dregs were poured directly into the clean-up column. The clean-up column consisted of two layers of water-absorbent polymer (upper) and graphitized carbon (lower), which were packed in a reservoir (75 ml ) of a cartridge column. The polymer removed water in the extract while the carbon performed clean-up. In a recovery test, 110 pesticides were spiked and average recoveries were more than 95% from spinach and orange. Most pesticides were recovered in the range 70-115% with RSD usually < 10% for five experiments. The residue analyses were performed by the extraction of 12 pesticides from 13 samples. The two methods resulted in similar residue levels except chlorothalonil in celery, for which the result was lower with the proposed method. The results confirmed that the proposed method could be applied to monitoring of pesticide residue in foods.     

Determination of urea-derived pesticides in fruits and vegetables by solid-phase preconcentration and capillary electrophoresis

A multiresidue analytical method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) enrichment combined with capillary electrophoresis (CE), using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC), was developed to determine ten substituted urea pesticides in orange and tomato samples. Several factors such as pH, composition and concentration of the buffer, concentration of surfactant, addition of organic solvent, and working voltage were optimized to obtain the best compound separation in the shortest time. Separation can be achieved in 7 min using a micellar aqueous pH 9 buffer composed of 4 mM borate and 35 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. After an SPE procedure, which provided a 10-fold enrichment, the limit of detection was about 0.05 mg kg(-1), which is in the order of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union (EU) for most of these compounds. Increasing the enrichment factor by using a larger amount of sample is difficult in oranges due to the matrix interferences, but is possible in tomatoes, which gave cleaner extracts and easily reached a 25-fold enrichment factor. The procedure involving SPE and CE provided acceptable recoveries (ranged 42-118%) and relative standard deviations (RSDs; < 19%) at levels between 0.3 and 5 mg kg(-1).     

Solid-phase extraction for multi-residue analysis of some triazole and pyrimidine pesticides in water

Summary A multi-residue analytical method based on solid-phase extraction (C₁₈) has been developed for the analysis of 12 compounds in groundwater. These compounds are triazoles, e.g. diclobutrazol, flutriafol, hexaconazole, paclobutrazol and its ketone analogue and pyrimidines, e.g. bupirimate, pirimicarb, pirimiphos-methyl, ethirimol, and other pesticides: fluazifop-P-butyl, fluazifop and fomesafen. In summary, one litre of water modified with 1% methanol was extracted using a C₁₈ solid-phase extraction column, containing 1 g of adsorbent. The retained compounds were eluted from the column with successive elutions of acetonitrile and methanol. No further clean-up was necessary. Residues were determined either by capillary gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) using a nitrogen-phosphorus selective detector, or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a UV detector. Recovery data on these compounds were obtained by fortifying water at 0.05–100 g/l levels. Depending on the compound, mean recoveries were within the range of 80–107% with a coefficient of variation of 9–15%. The limit of determination, defined as four times the baseline noise, varied between 0.003–0.1 g/l also depending on the compound and detection sensitivity of the instrument. These recovery data have also been compared to values generated by conventional liquid-liquid partition. Various techniques were used to confirm the identity of these compounds. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) using selective ion monitoring (SIM) was used to confirm the compounds which were amenable to gas-liquid chromatography. These were all the triazoles and bupirimate, pirimicarb, pirimiphos-methyl and fluazifop-P-butyl. HPLC methods were developed using different mobile phase and adsorbent combinations for the confirmation of ethirimol, fluazifop and fomesafen residues in water.     

Selective pressurized liquid extraction for multi-residue analysis of organochlorine pesticides in soil

A selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) procedure capable of performing simultaneous extraction and clean-up has been demonstrated for multi-residue analysis of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soil. The final method was performed at 100 degrees C for 3 x 10 min using acetone/n-heptane (1:1, v/v). Florisil was placed inside the extraction cell downstream the sample to remove interfering compounds. Extraction of two soil samples by SPLE gave a recovery which was over 80% for beta-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE compared to PLE with off-line clean-up. The same trend was observed when applying the SPLE method to a certified reference soil sample (CRM 811-050) containing 13 OCPs, where the SPLE method gave 80-90% recovery vis-à-vis the PLE method with off-line clean-up. Feasibility of the SPLE method was further demonstrated by applying it to five real soil samples collected in Ethiopia.     

Simultaneous determination of carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was established for the purpose of simultaneous determination of carbamate and organophosphorus (OPPs) pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile; and then prepared by dispersive solid-phase extraction (dispersive-SPE) with primary secondary amine (PSA) as the sorbent. Four common representative samples (tomato, apple, carrot, and cabbage) were selected from the supermarket to investigate the effect of different matrices on pesticides recoveries and assay precision after spiking samples with 0.05 mg/kg. Matrix composition did not interfere significantly with the determination of the pesticides. The obtained recoveries were, with a few exceptions, in the range of 70-110% with RSDs less than 8%. It was applied to pesticide residue monitoring in vegetables and fruits from local markets.     

On-line preconcentration strategies for analyzing pesticides in fruits and vegetables by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Five pesticides (fludioxonil, procymidone, pyriproxyfen, dinoseb and carbendazim) were separated in reversed migration micellar electrokinetic chromatography (RM-MEKC) using 20 mmol l(-1) phosphate buffer at pH 2.3, containing 25 mmol l(-1) sodium dodecylsulfate and 10% methanol. Three on-line concentration strategies, sweeping (SW), normal stacking with reversed migration and a water plug (SRW) and stacking with reverse migration and removal of sample matrix using polarity switching (SRMM), were compared. About 10-, 30- and 50-fold increases in detection sensitivity, compared with standard hydrodynamic injection (5 s at 0.5 psi), were observed with SW, SRW and SRMM, respectively. Limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.002 to 0.03 microg ml(-1) using only the on-line preconcentration procedures without any off-line concentration of the extract. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, for previous isolation and concentration of the analytes, was used in combination with any of the proposed on-line preconcentration strategies, which achieves the determination of pesticides at limits of quantification (LOQs) lower than 0.01 mg kg(-1). The recoveries obtained by SPE in samples spiked at 0.01 mg kg(-1) were between 70 and 100%, with RSDs between 10 and 18% using SRMM. Samples of fruits and vegetables were taken from the market, extracted by the proposed procedure and analyzed with RM-MEKC with the on-line strategies.     

Carotenoids and their isomers: color pigments in fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are colorful pigment-containing food sources. Owing to their nutritional benefits and phytochemicals, they are considered as 'functional food ingredients'. Carotenoids are some of the most vital colored phytochemicals, occurring as all-trans and cis-isomers, and accounting for the brilliant colors of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids extensively studied in this regard include β-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Coloration of fruits and vegetables depends on their growth maturity, concentration of carotenoid isomers, and food processing methods. This article focuses more on several carotenoids and their isomers present in different fruits and vegetables along with their concentrations. Carotenoids and their geometric isomers also play an important role in protecting cells from oxidation and cellular damages.     

Multiresidue analysis of 74 pesticides in fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography–electrospray–tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method is described for the determination of 74 pesticides commonly used in crop protection including mainly carbamate, conazole, benzimidazole and pyrimidine fungicides and insecticides. Pesticides residues are extracted from the samples with ethyl acetate. No additional clean-up steps are necessary. Analysis is performed by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry. The method has been validated for various fruits and vegetables matrices. Good sensitivity and selectivity of the method are obtained with limits of quantification of 0.01 mg/kg in almost all cases. Recoveries, RSD and accuracy values of the method fulfilled the criteria of validation commonly admitted. The method was applied very satisfactorily to routine analysis as a complement to traditional GC method. More than 2500 fruits and vegetables samples have been controlled, as a part of the pesticide monitoring program of the “Service de Protection de la Consommation” in Geneva. Quality control systems applied during the assays have demonstrated very good performances and stability with time.     

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in fresh fruits and vegetables using procedures developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Improved quality and efficiency of pesticide residue analysis were achieved by examining all aspects of the laboratory process. In an effort to eliminate methylene chloride hazardous waste, an acetonitrile extraction method, originally developed by the California Department of Agriculture, was modified and adopted. Sample size and solvent consumption were reduced with the new method. Custom glassware racks and disposable supplies reduced overall analysis time. Gravity-fed, solid-phase extraction simplified sample preparation and provided cleaner extracts for gas chromatographic analyses. Modifications to the method were made to achieve the ruggedness needed to maintain quality objectives during routine analysis. Instrumental improvements, including new selective detectors, retention time locking, and mass spectrometry screening for all samples, provided the laboratory with efficient, reliable, and confirmed analytical results.     

Determination of polar pesticides in water, vegetables, and fruits by high performance liquid chromatography

The methods for determining 25 combined pesticides (neonicotinoids, imidazole derivatives, urea derivatives, sim-triazines, triazoles, carbamates, organophosphorous compounds, pirethroids) in water, vegetables, and fruits in the concentration range of 0.005–10 mg/L (mg/kg) have been developed by the HPLC method with diode matrix detection at 220 nm. The determination of pesticides in water was carried out without the preparation or concentration of the sample. In the analysis of vegetables and fruits (pestcides extraction and extract purification), the preparation of the sample was performed by the QuEChERS method. The duration of analysis is 0.5–1.0 h, and the relative standard deviation of analysis results does not stand out above 0.05.     

Capillary electrophoresis for analyzing pesticides in fruits and vegetables using solid-phase extraction and stir-bar sorptive extraction

Two procedures based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) in combination with micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC)--diode array detection (DAD) were compared for the simultaneous extraction of acrinathrin, bitertanol, cyproconazole, fludioxonil, flutriafol, myclobutanil, pyriproxyfen, and tebuconazole in lettuce, tomato, grape, and strawberry. Selectivity and resolution of the MEKC procedure were studied changing the pH and the molarity of the buffer, the type and the concentration of surfactant, and the methanol content in the mobile phase. A buffer consisting of 6 mM sodium tetraborate decahydrate with 75 mM of cholic acid sodium solution (pH 9.2) gave the best results. Linearity, extraction efficiencies and limits of quantitation (LOQs) of both extraction methods were compared. The recoveries obtained by SPE ranged from 40 to 106% with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) from 10 to 19% whereas by the SBSE method, the recoveries were 12-47% and the R.S.D.s 3-17%. The LOQs were much better by SPE (0.2-0.5 mg kg(-1) depending on the processed sample amount) than those obtained by SBSE (1 mg kg(-1) for each compound). Advantages and disadvantages of both procedures are also discussed. As SPE is more robust, rapid, and sensitive than SBSE, its application in combination with MEKC is recommended because provided LOQs below the MRLs established, which is not always attained by SBSE.     

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in vegetables and fruits by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after gel permeation chromatography and graphitized carbon column cleanup

A multiresidue method for pesticides that enables quantitative, sequential analysis of a large number of vegetable and fruit samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been developed. First, 89 important target compounds were selected for monitoring, and then the appropriate internal standards for these pesticides, 14 stable isotopically labeled pesticides (surrogates), were used. The sample was extracted with acetonitrile, and the extract was cleaned up by a salting-out step followed by redissolution in ethyl acetate. Coextractives were removed automatically by gel permeation chromatography with a graphitized carbon column, and then by use of a tandem silica-gel/PSA cartridge column. Recoveries of 82 of the 89 pesticides from fortified spinach, tomato, apple, and strawberry were within a range from 70 to 120%, and the relative standard deviation values of 80 of the 89 pesticides were <5%. The method was applied to 188 commercial vegetable and fruit samples to demonstrate its use in routine analysis.     

Comparison on the antioxidant capacity of selected fruits and vegetables and their separations

Several kinds of fruits, including apple, pear, and grape, and vegetables, including onion and tomato, were studied in this paper. FRAP and DPPH assays were used to determine the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts and their separations. After being extracted, different phenolic compounds were separated on Sephadex LH-20 column. EC1 and EC50 were used to show the ferric reducing ability and DPPH scavenging activity. The results indicated that the Fe-reducing ability order of different extracts was different with that of DPPH scavenging ability. The mutual effect of the substances in the mixture influenced the antioxidant activity of the separations. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 333–335, July–August, 2006.