Detection of imidacloprid and deltamethrin pesticide residues in honey produced by Apis mellifera and Tetragonula laeviceps

Abstract

Pesticides are chemicals or biological agents that farmers commonly use to control pests. Consequently, pesticides may contaminate agricultural products after application and also contaminate other commodities because of their high persistence. This research determined the pesticide contamination of two active ingredients, imidacloprid, and deltamethrin, in honey obtained from four beekeeping in Java. The honey samples of as much as 250g were collected from beekeeping of honeybee (Apis mellifera) in Blora-Central Java and Subang-West Java, also stingless bee (Tetragonula laeviceps) in Sumedang and Banten, West Java. Residue analysis was performed using the LC-MS/MS method in Saraswanti Indo Genetech, Bogor. The beekeeping location was around 500 to 1000 meters from cultivation plants, such as chili, shallot, and rice. Based on residue analysis results, the active ingredient was undetected, or the content of the detected active ingredient was below the limit of detection/LOD (<0.001 mg/kg of imidacloprid; <0.0039 mg/kg of deltamethrin). In addition, the LOD that can be detected was also underneath the maximum residue limit/MRL (0.05 mg/kg of imidacloprid; 0.03 mg/kg of deltamethrin). Therefore, honey from beekeeping was still secure for consumption. Even though all beekeeping locations were close to crops, the bees did not carry contaminated nectar from crops.