A multi-residue screening method for the determination of 73 pesticides and metabolites in fruit and vegetables using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A multi-residue screening method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of 73 pesticides and their metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. These pesticides were determined under a single set of experimental conditions involving a simple acetonitrile extraction without the requirement for a clean-up step. Validation was achieved at 0.01 and 0.1 mg kg-1 levels in apple, lettuce and orange. Recoveries were in the range 77-124% for the majority of pesticides. © Crown Copyright 2004. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.