Determination of pesticides and their metabolites in processed cereal samples

Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2012;29(1):104-16. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2011.615032. Epub 2011 Nov 1.

Abstract

Fifteen pesticides including some of their metabolites (disulfoton sulfoxide, ethoprophos, cadusafos, dimethoate, terbufos, disulfoton, chlorpyrifos-methyl, malaoxon, fenitrothion, pirimiphos-methyl, malathion, chlorpyrifos, terbufos sulfone, disulfoton sulfone and fensulfothion) were analysed in milled toasted wheat and maize as well as in wheat flour and baby cereals. The QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) methodology was used and its dispersive solid-phase extraction procedure was optimised by means of an experimental design with the aim of reducing the amount of co-extracted lipids and obtaining a clean extract. Gas chromatography with nitrogen phosphorus detection were used as the separation and detection techniques, respectively. The method was validated in terms of selectivity, recoveries, calibration, precision and accuracy as well as matrix effects. Limits of detection were between 0.07 and 34.8 µg kg(-1) with recoveries in the range of 71-110% (relative standard deviations were below 9%). A total of 40 samples of different origin were analysed. Residues of pirimiphos-methyl were found in six of the samples at concentrations in the range 0.08-0.47 mg kg(-1), which were below the MRLs established for this pesticide in cereal grains. Tandem mass spectrometry confirmation was also carried out in order to identify unequivocally the presence of this pesticide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Edible Grain / chemistry*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Pesticides / analysis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • Pesticides