Method Validation of Pesticide Residues in Cabbage, Kale, Carrots and Oranges by GC-MS/MS

Method Validation of Pesticide Residues in Cabbage, Kale, Carrots and Oranges

Abstract

         Fresh fruits and vegetables are the most popular and widely consumed foods as they are rich sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Therefore, in commercial farming, using pesticides for increasing agricultural production is inevitable, resulting in pesticide residues affecting consumers’ health. This study aimed to validate the method for multi-pesticide residue analysis of 122 pesticides in cabbage, kale, carrot and orange. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChER) method was employed for the sample extraction and clean-up process. Then it was analyzed by GC-MS/MS with the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technique to reduce interference. The method’s linearity range was 5−500 μg/kg, with R² > 0.98; the accuracy %recovery rates in cabbage, kale, carrot, and orange were 63.6−112.12%, 70.01−117.46%, 61.74−111.24%, and 49.00−117.74%, respectively; and the precision %RSD was less than 20%. The method showed a limit of detection (LOD) and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. In the fiscal year 2022, the method was used to analyze pesticides in 217 samples of fruits and vegetables. It was found that 63 samples did not meet standards (29.03%). The top two commonly detected pesticide residues were chlorfenapyr and cypermethrin. In conclusion, this method for kale met all acceptance criteria. In cabbage, carrots, and oranges, 88 substances met the criteria, but the other 34 substances did not. So, further studies on this matter to meet the multi-pesticide residue analysis criteria for fruit and vegetable categories and all pesticides according to the laws and regulations should be carried out.