Validation study on a rapid multi-residue method for determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

A validation study was conducted on a rapid multiresidue method for determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits by LC-MS/MS. Pesticide residues in the vegetables or fruits were extracted with acetonitrile in a disposable tube using a homogenizer, followed by salting out with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride in the presence of citrate salts for buffering. The extract was purified with a double-layered cartridge column (graphite carbon black/primary secondary amine silica gel; GCB/PSA). For citrus fruits a purification step with a C18 column was added (this column was connected to the GCB/PSA column). After removal of the solvent, the extract was resolved in methanol/water and analyzed by means of LC-MS/MS. The method was validated according to the method validation guideline of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan; recovery tests were performed on 8 kinds of vegetables and fruits [cabbage, cucumber, Japanese radish, onion, potato, spinach, Amanatsumikan (a citrus fruit) and apple] by fortification of 161 pesticide residues at the concentrations 0.01 and 0.05 ng/g (each concentration of pesticide residue was extracted from 2 samples on 5 separate days). The trueness of the method for 127 pesticides in all 8 commodities was 70-120% with satisfactory repeatability and within-run reproducibility. This method is concluded to be applicable for determination of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits.