Residues of some organophosphorus pesticides on and in fruits and vegetables available in Poland,an assessment based on the European union regulations and health assessment for human populations

Abstract

The use of organophosphorus pesticides is undeniably beneficial in agriculture and veterinary medicine, but their excessive use can pollute the environment, as well as contaminate foodstuffs. The objective of this study was to assess contamination of vegetables and fruits available in Poland by organophosphate pesticides (ethoprophos, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, parathion-methyl, fenchlorphos, merfos,, as well as to assess a potential health risk posed to consumers. The pesticide content was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The pesticides were detected in the peel and pulp of vegetables and fruits from Polish crops, as well as imported ones. Pesticide levels in most products were higher in the peel than in the pulp. Neither chlorpyrifos-methyl nor fenchlorphos were found in the material under study. Chlorpyrifos was the pesticide occurring in the highest levels in the peel of both vegetables (31?ng?·?g^?1 w.w.) and fruit (9.3?ng?·?g^?1 w.w.). The Maximum Residue Level (MRL) for parathion-methyl was exceeded in some samples of zucchini pulp of Spanish origin and in the peel of potato from Poland. But levels of other pesticides in the studied vegetables and fruits were significantly lower than the current MRLs. The assessment of consumer health risk showed a significantly lower Lifetime Average Daily Dose (LADD) of pesticides under this study comparing to the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). Moreover, the Hazard Quotient (HQ) was low with a maximum of 3.93?×?10^?2 for vegetables and 4.26?×?10^?3 for fruits. These estimated HQs were within the safe acceptable limits, indicating low risk to human populations from exposure to organophosphorus pesticides in the study area.     

Multiresidue Analysis of Pesticides in Vegetables and Citrus Fruits by LC–MS–MS

In this work, an analytical multiresidue method using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) with triple quadrupole in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode for the simultaneous determination of 54 pesticides in vegetables (pepper and tomato) and citrus fruits (orange and lemon) has been developed. The procedure involves initial single phase extraction of sample with acetonitrile by agitation, followed by liquid–liquid partition aided by “salting out” process using NaCl. The average recovery by the LC–MS–MS method obtained for these compounds varied from 65.5 to 114.5% with a relative standard deviation between 2.3 and 8.3%. The method presents good linearity over the range assayed 10–500 μg L^?1 (except famoxadone 50–1,000 μg L^?1) and the detection limits for the pesticides studied varied from 0.03 to 14.9 μg kg^?1. The proposed method was used to determine pesticide levels in vegetables and citrus fruit samples from different experimental orchards and greenhouses from the Region of Murcia.     

Multi-Residue Analysis of 205 Crop Pesticides Using Mini-Solid Phase Extraction–Large Volume Injection–GC–MS

A simple, rapid, and sensitive multi-residue method has been developed for the determination of 205 pesticides commonly used for crop protection. Pesticide residues were extracted from samples with acetonitrile and a mini-solid phase extraction filter. No additional concentration or clean-up steps were necessary. Analyses were performed via large volume gas chromatography injection using a stomach-shaped inlet liner. The developed method was linear over the range assayed (5–50 μg L^?1), with determination coefficients >0.99. The limits of quantification were in the range 0.0005–0.6 mg kg^?1 and the limits of detection were between 0.00015 and 0.2 mg kg^?1. The majorities of them were lower than the maximum residue set by the Japanese government in “Positive System for Agricultural Chemical Residues in Food” directive in apple. This method was applied to determine pesticide levels in vegetables, fruits, and beans.     

阳离子交换净化/气相色谱-质谱法与气相色谱法测定蔬菜水果中15种三唑类农药残留

采用离子交换净化法,建立了蔬菜水果中15种三唑类农药残留测定的前处理方法。样品用乙腈提取,加入氯化钠均质,离心分层后取部分乙腈层经溶剂转换后过阳离子交换柱净化,所得净化液经浓缩定容后供气相色谱仪(GC)和气相色谱-质谱仪(GC-MS)分析。气相色谱-质谱法采用选择离子扫描方式(SIM),外标法定量。结果表明,在最优条件下15种三唑类农药的定量下限(S/N≥10)均可达到0.01 mg/kg,在0.01、0.05、0.10 mg/kg三个加标水平下的回收率为68%~102%,相对标准偏差为2.4%~16.2%。实验特别考察了该净化方法在气相色谱-电子捕获检测器(ECD)上的适用性,发现各种蔬菜水果(包括葱属蔬菜)均可获得干扰极少的ECD谱图。方法简单、快速,适用于多种蔬菜水果中15种三唑类农药残留的测定。     

Screening Method for the Determination at Parts Per Trillion Levels of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables Combining Solid‐Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A new analytical method is proposed for determining residues of 70 pesticides of different chemical families at parts per trillion levels in fresh vegetables. For that, only 4 g of the vegetable samples were quickly extracted with 10 ml of ethyl acetate. The method is based on a vanguard/rearguard strategy that reduces the average time required per sample when the method is applied to a high number of vegetable samples in a quality control laboratory. At the beginning, an aliquot of the extract is evaporated and re‐dissolved in a mixture water:acetone (9∶1 v/v). For screening purposes, the pesticides were extracted for only 10 min by direct immersion of a solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fiber (65 µm polydimethylsiloxane‐divinylbenzene, PDMS‐DVB). The SPME device was automated and on‐line coupled to a gas chromatograph with an ion trap mass spectrometer (GC‐MS) operated in full scan mode for screening in less than 18 min those samples that potentially contain pesticides above 0.01 mg kg^?1 (cut off value). After that, only those potentially non‐negative samples were reanalyzed by a sensitive quantifying/confirming method that re‐extract by SPME the pesticides in 55 min of absorption and determine them by GC with tandem MS (MS/MS). The method has been validated following EU guidelines and compared with a conventional extraction method based on the use of higher amounts of organic solvents. The limits of detection (LOD), confirmation (LOC) and quantitation (LOQ) as well as the calibration curves obtained allowed the determination of the target pesticides at concentrations clearly below the maximum residue levels (MRL) stated by EU being possible the determination of parts per trillion of the pesticides in ecological (green) vegetables. The method has been applied to the analysis of real samples and the results compared with those obtained by a conventional extraction method accredited by ENAC (Spanish Accreditation Body). The proposed method was also evaluated participating in a proficiency test with adequate results (z‐score among±2).     

MSPD–GC–MS–MS Determination of Residues of 15 Organic Nitrogen-Containing Pesticides in Vegetables

A novel and simple method for determination of 15 organic nitrogen-containing pesticides in vegetables using matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) coupled with gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS–MS) has been developed. The efficiencies of different sorbents (florisil, silicone, neutral alumina) for the MSPD were compared. Mean recoveries of the method using neutral alumina varied from 73.26 to 111.83% with relative standard deviations of 0.79–15.33% in the concentration range of 0.01, 0.02 and 0.05 mg kg^?1. The limits of detection were typically in the 0.0007–0.0320 mg kg^?1 range, which were 10–100 times lower than the maximum residue levels established by the European Union. This method was applied to residue detection in vegetables, in which organic nitrogen-containing compounds were detected at low concentrations.     

Analysis of pyrethroid pesticides in Chinese vegetables and fruits by GC–MS/MS

A rapid and economical method using modified QuEChERS sample pretreatment coupled with high-sensitivity gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established to simultaneously determine ten pyrethroid pesticides in fruits and vegetables. All pesticides were detected within 20 min of one injection. Concurrent backflushing provided column protection, greatly facilitating instrument maintenance. For quantitation, matrix-matched calibration was used to compensate for signal-enhancement effects and to ensure the precision of the method. The limit of detection (LOD) was in the range of 0.3–4.9 μg/kg. The recovery rate was from 78.8 to 118.6%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 14.8%. The developed method is suitable for rapid and sensitive multi-residue analysis of pyrethroid pesticides in fruits and vegetables. It is good for users in professional institutions that implement safety controls for testing hundreds of agricultural product samples everyday.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定10种食品中四溴菊酯残留

建立了测定蔬菜、水果、茶叶、大豆等10种食品中四溴菊酯残留的高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)分析方法。样品以乙酸乙酯(蔬菜、水果、茶叶样品)或乙腈(大豆样品)为提取剂,上层有机相经浓缩、固相萃取小柱净化,流动相定容后,采用HPLC在Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C18色谱柱上,以甲醇和缓冲盐溶液(0.1%甲酸-10 mmol/L乙酸铵)为流动相进行梯度洗脱分离,以串联质谱在多反应监测(MRM)模式下测定,基质外标法定量。结果表明,四溴菊酯的质量浓度在20～1 000μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数为0.999 8;在0.01、0.02、0.1 mg/kg(粮谷类、茶叶、大豆样品)和0.005、0.01、0.05mg/kg(果蔬类样品)加标水平下的回收率为75%～92%,相对标准偏差(RSDs)为4.0%～12.6%(n=6),定量下限(S/N≥10)为0.01 mg/kg(粮谷类、茶叶、大豆样品)和0.005 mg/kg(果蔬类样品)。该方法不受溴氰菊酯干扰,可直接测定四溴菊酯,克服了以往方法只能测定四溴菊酯和溴氰菊酯总量的不足。     

Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticides in Vegetables by GC with Pulsed Flame-Photometric Detection, and Confirmation by MS

The suitability of gas chromatography with pulsed flame-photometric detection (GC–PFPD) for determination of 24 organophosphorus (OP) pesticides in vegetables has been assessed. Pesticides were extracted with dichloromethane and analyzed without cleanup. The performance of the method was fit for purpose; recovery was between 73 and 110% and precision was better than 15%. Calculated lower limits of detection were typically <0.01 mg kg^?1, much lower than the maximum residue levels stipulated by European legislation. Three pesticides were detected in vegetable samples. Their presence was confirmed by GC with tandem mass spectrometric detection (GC–MS–MS).     

Combination of the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction in the identification and determination of pesticides from various classes in food products by gas-liquid chromatography

A procedure for the identification (104 substances) and determination (40 substances) of the active components of combined pesticides from different classes in water, vegetables, fruits, and meat by gas chromatography with mass-spectrometric and electron-capture detectors was proposed. The pesticides were extracted from the samples of vegetables, fruits, and meat with acetonitrile using the QuEChERS method. The extracts were preconcentrated by a factor of 50–60 and additionally purified by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. The pesticides were extracted from water by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with hexane (degree of concentration was higher than 100). The limits of detection by the time-of-flight detector equaled 0.01–0.02 mg/kg for solid samples and 1–2 μg/L for aqueous solutions. The limits of quantitation for pesticides were 1–2 mg/kg for solid samples and 0.05–0.1 μg/L for solutions. The analysis time was 1–2 h, and the RSD of the results did not exceed 18%.     

Simultaneous Analysis of Hexaconazole, Myclobutanil, and Tebuconazole Residues in Apples and Soil by SPE Clean-Up and GC with Nitrogen–Phosphorus Detection

A facile and sensitive method utilizing capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detection (GC–NPD) has been developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of hexaconazole, myclobutanil, and tebuconazole, three broad-spectrum systemic fungicides, in apples and soil. Two samples were fortified with the three pesticides and subjected to ultrasonic extraction, followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) to remove coextractives, before analysis by GC–NPD. SPE procedures were performed on PSA cartridges (500 mg, 3 mL), the analytes being eluted with n-hexane–acetone (9:1 v/v, 2 mL). Recovery of three pesticides from the fortified apple and soil samples ranged from 94.5 to 107.3% with relative standard deviations less than 9.7% at the three spike levels (0.01, 0.1, and 0.5 mg kg^?1). Limits of quantification of the method for apple and soil were 0.01 mg kg^?1, sufficiently below the maximum residue limits. Direct confirmation of the analytes in samples was achieved by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).     

Pesticide residues analysis in honey using ethyl acetate extraction method: validation and pilot survey in real samples

This paper presents a cost-effective and validated multi residue confirmatory method for the determination of 167 chemically different pesticides and a survey study on Cyprus honey samples. This method uses ethyl acetate for the extraction of pesticides from honey and the determination is performed with liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) operating in tandem mode (MS/MS) and with GC–ECD (gas chromatography with electron capture detector) analysis. The LC-MS/MS analytical system is especially important in the analysis of polar and non-volatile pesticides. For the validation of the method, blank honey samples were spiked with 146 pesticides (organophosphorous, carbamates, triazoles, amides, neonicodinoids, strobilurines, phenylureas, bendimidazoles and others) for the LC-MS/MS analysis at three levels: 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg kg^?1 and with 21 pesticides for the GC-ECD analysis at two levels: 0.01 and 0.05 mg kg^?1for organochlorines and 0.05 and 0.2 mg kg^?1for the pyrethroids. As blank sample, a sample of honey which did not contain detectable levels of the analytes sought was used. The validation study was in accordance to the DG SANCO guidelines. The scope of validation included recovery, linearity, limits of quantification and precision. Linearity is demonstrated all along the range of concentration that was investigated with correlation coefficients ≥0.98. Recoveries of the majority of compounds were in the 70%–120% range and were characterised by precision lower or equal to 20%. The validated method was used for a survey of 36 samples of honey produced in different areas of Cyprus and this is the first work on Cypriot honey samples investigating a broad range of pesticides. Only coumaphos was detected at concentrations higher than 0.01 mg kg^?1 in the 58.6% of the honey samples analysed for Coumaphos. The results were evaluated in accordance to the provisions of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 37/2010 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits (MRLs) in foodstuffs of animal origin. The concentrations of coumaphos in all positive samples were at levels much lower than the MRL.     

Simple LC–MS Determination of Citric and Malic Acids in Fruits and Vegetables

A rapid, reliable and sensitive method has been developed to determine malic and citric acid in fruits and vegetables. The methodology is based on simple extraction with an aqueous solution of ethanol (80% v/v) and subsequent chromatographic analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization in negative mode was used. The best response for citric and malic acid was provided by molecular ions [M?H]^? at m/z 191 and 133 respectively. These ions were used for quantification, whereas other fragments were used as confirmation ions. Different variables involved in the separation and detection process, such as mobile phase, gradient profile and flow rate have been optimised. Linearity, repeatability, recovery and limits of quantification were evaluated. Good linearity was obtained up to 5,000 mg kg^?1. Recovery ranged from 90.0 to 104.6%, repeatability (expressed as RSD) was <8% for tested matrices, and limits of quantification were equal or lower than 65 mg kg^?1. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of samples of orange, tomato and pepper.     

介孔氧化铝净化-气相色谱法同时测定蔬菜、水果及茶叶中16种有机磷农药残留

利用气相色谱检测技术,建立了能应用于白菜、生菜、南瓜、洋葱、番茄、白萝卜、苹果、梨及茶叶等不同基质中16种有机磷农药残留的检测方法。样品采用乙酸乙酯提取,经以合成的介孔氧化铝作吸附剂的固相萃取柱净化,DB-1701毛细管柱分离,气相色谱-火焰光度检测器检测。结果表明,蔬菜、水果及茶叶基质中16种有机磷农药在10~2000 μg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系（R²>0.997）;平均回收率为83.2%~103.8%,相对标准偏差为2.0%~9.9%。该方法灵敏度高、准确度高、重复性好,可适用于蔬菜、水果及茶叶基质中16种有机磷残留量的同时测定。     

Determination of 24 pesticides residues in mineral and peat soils by modified QuEChERS method and gas chromatography

A simple extraction and cleanup procedure has been developed for the analysis of 24 organophosphorus (OP), organochlorine (OC) and pyrethroid (PY) pesticides in mineral and peat soils using modified QuEChERS method. The pesticides were extracted from the soil with acidified acetonitrile. The water was removed from the extract by salting out with sodium chloride and addition of magnesium sulfate. For OP pesticides, the extracts were cleaned up with 0.2 g of primary secondary amine packed in glass Pasteur pipette and determined by gas chromatography with flame photometric detector. For OC and PY pesticides, the extracts were cleaned up with 0.2 g of silica gel packed in a glass Pasteur pipette and determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. After the cleanup, the extracts had lower colour intensity and reduced matrix interferences. The recovery of the OP and OC pesticides for mineral and peat soils determined at 0.01–1.0 mg kg^?1 fortification levels ranged from 79.0–120.0% and 82.2–117.6%, respectively. The detection limits for OP and OC pesticides were 0.001–0.01 and 0.002–0.005 mg kg^?1, respectively. The recovery of the PY pesticides ranged from 87.5–111.7% at the detection limits of 0.002–0.010 mg kg^?1. The relative standard deviations for all pesticides studied were below 10.8%. The modified method was simple, fast, and had utilized less reagents than the conventional methods. The method was applied to the determination of the pesticide residues in mineral and peat soil samples collected from the vegetable farms.     

气相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱准确鉴定常见水果蔬菜中的农药残留

建立了一种新型农药多残留检测方法。采用气相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱（GC-QTOF MS）结合Carbon NH₂柱固相萃取净化可对不同类别的152种农药残留进行准确的鉴定。一级（MS¹）精确质量数据库评价3~5个特征离子,以3个及以上特征离子检出且离子丰度比（Q/q_i）合适作为一级质谱定性依据。对部分特征离子数不足及特征离子检出情况不符合条件的农药进行二级（MS²）确证,应用二级谱图库检索及镜像结果对比分析实现疑似农药确证。本文对梨、甘蓝、番茄3种代表性果蔬在5.0和10.0 μg/kg 2个添加水平的152种农药进行测定,回收率在70%~120%范围的比例分别为甘蓝91.45 %、94.08%,番茄88.20%、88.80%,梨86.84%、92.10%。本方法为常见果蔬中农药残留的准确判断提供了可靠依据,扩大了分析范围。     

Determination of Concentration Levels of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water from the Mandacaru Stream in Maringá-Paraná-Brazil Employing Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

In this work, a method to determine the concentration levels of organochlorine pesticides in water samples from the Mandacaru stream in the region of Maringá- Paraná was validated, using the technique of solid phase extraction associated with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. In the optimization of the method, parameters such as injector temperature and splitless time were evaluated. The analytical curves showed linear correlation values greater than 0.99 (R² > 0.99) for all compounds. The detection limits of 0.243 µg L^?1 to 1.200 µg L^?1 and quantification of 5.0 µg L^?1 were obtained for pesticides and the recovery values were between 88.25 and 127.3%. Values of relative standard deviation were less than 6.79%. In the water samples analyzed were found four organochlorine pesticides, two with concentrations within the limits set by national legislation and two with concentrations above these limits.     

Simultaneous Analysis of Carbamate and Organophosphorus Pesticides in Water by Single-Drop Microextraction Coupled with GC–MS

Single-drop microextraction (SDME) has been coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to enable rapid and simple simultaneous analysis of carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides (OPP). The significant conditions affecting SDME performance (microextraction solvent, extraction time, solvent volume, sample pH, stirring speed, and ionic strength) were studied and optimized. Extraction was achieved by suspending a 1.5-μL drop of toluene from the tip of a microsyringe directly immersed in 5-mL aqueous donor solution at pH 5 stirred at 800 rpm. The dynamic linear range and detection limits of the method were evaluated by analysis of water samples spiked with carbamate pesticides and OPP. Under selected ion-storage mode, very low detection limits (0.02–0.50 ng mL^?1) and good linearity (0.5–200 ng mL^?1) were achieved. When SDME was applied to analysis of pesticides in natural water samples good recoveries (89.4–102.1%) were obtained. Inter-day and intra-day RSD of most results were below 5.4 and 6.1%, respectively. The method proved to be a rapid and simple tool for extraction and analysis of these pesticides in water samples.     

气相色谱法测定茶叶中多种有机磷农药残留量

 采用微量化学法和全自动固相萃取技术 ,建立了气相色谱法同时测定茶叶中 14种有机磷农药残留量的方法 ,并对样品的前处理作了一定的探讨。结果表明 ,采用程序升温 ,所测定的 14种有机磷农药在SPBTM 170 1石英毛细管柱上得到了很好的分离 ,且方法快速、灵敏 ,完全符合实际应用需要。     

气相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱法快速测定蔬菜水果中129种农药的残留量

采用QuEChERS方法结合气相色谱-串联质谱法(GC-MS/MS)建立了蔬菜、水果中129种农药残留同时检测的分析方法。试样用1%乙酸乙腈均质提取,采用混合型固相分散萃取剂净化后,用GC-MS/MS在多反应离子监测(MRM)模式下进行检测,外标法定量。结果表明,129种药物在一定的含量范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(r2)均大于0.98;不同基质在10 μg/kg添加水平下大部分农药的平均回收率为66.2%～124.7%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.9%～24.4%;方法的定量限(LOQ)为0.03～16.7 μg/kg。结果表明,该方法简便快速、灵敏可靠、经济有效,适用于蔬菜、水果中农药多残留的同时快速筛查测定。