Development of a screening method for selected pesticides in apples by direct injection ESI/MS

Abstract

Apple production is highly dependent on pesticides since the usage of these chemicals ensure satisfactory crop yields. The extent and frequency of pesticide application, along with their health risk maintain the need to monitor pesticides residue amount in food. Nowadays pesticides analysis methods are mainly quantitative and implement the usage of both GC/MS and LC/MS. The aim of this investigation was to establish a screening ESI/MS method with direct injection as the major feature. The method is simpler than usually applied methods so it can be employed as the first stage in pesticides analysis. Screening can be performed within 13 min with no more than ∼300 μL of sample extract. Established detection limits are below pesticides MRLs.