Phthalates and organophosphorus insecticide residues in shrimp determined by liquid/gas chromatography-Tandem mass spectrometry and a health risk assessment

Abstract

Shrimps are the most widely and increasingly cultured crustaceans in land-based ponds in Taiwan. However, few studies have investigated the phthalate contamination of and insecticide residues in shrimp. In this study, we applied a validated method to analyze the phthalate and 18 insecticides residues in shrimp. A total of 46 samples of whiteleg, grass, or giant river shrimp were collected from aquafarms and production areas in Taiwan. We detected 0.02-0.70 mg/kg of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in three shrimps; 0.02-0.03 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos in three shrimps, and 0.03 mg/kg of trichlorfon in one shrimp, indicating that 6.52% and 8.70% of the samples contained phthalate and insecticide residues, respectively. Furthermore, the assessed risk was negligible and indicated no immediate health risk associated with shrimp consumption. Continual monitoring of the residues in shrimps is critical for further assessment of possible effects on human health.

Keywords: Mass spectrometry; Organophosphorus pesticides; Phthalates; Residues; Shrimp.