Validation study on a multi-residue method for determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits by using general matrix standard solutions

Abstract

Quantitative methods using the matrix-matched standard solutions approach are widely used for multi-residue pesticide determination by GC-MS/MS to deal with the issue of matrix effects. However, preparing matrix-matched standard solutions in analyses of many kinds of samples is very time-consuming. In order to solve this problem, a method that employs general matrix standard solutions has been developed using polyethylene glycol (PEG), extract of vegetables-fruit juice (VFJm) and triphenyl phosphate (named the PEG-VFJm method). Here, a validation study for 168 pesticides was performed on three kinds of samples [potato, spinach and apple] at concentrations of 0.010 and 0.050 μg/g. In these three commodities, 144 to 158 pesticides satisfied the required criteria using the matrix-matched method and 129 to 149 pesticides satisfied the same criteria using the PEG-VFJm method. Our results suggest that application of general matrix standard solutions would enable rapid and effective analyses of pesticides.