Determination of 60 pesticides in hen eggs using the QuEChERS procedure followed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS

Abstract

An analytical method involving QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) sample preparation, followed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS was developed and validated for the determination of 60 pesticides in eggs. Recoveries of 70–120% were achieved for selected pesticides and relative standard deviations <20% were obtained for most analytes at three concentrations. The limit of quantification was <10 µg kg−1 for 83% of the total pesticides. This method was used to analyze 58 egg samples and the residues of seven pesticides (disulfoton, fipronil sulfone, cyromazine, o,p-DDT, p,p-DDD, p,p-DDT, and permethrin) were quantified in 16 egg samples at levels of 5–10 µg kg−1, which was below the corresponding the maximum residue levels, as established by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. We demonstrated that LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS in combination with QuEChERS can be used to routinely monitor multiple pesticide residues in egg samples.