Organophosphorus Pesticide in Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) Fruit

Daniel Alcântara,Patricia Grinberg,Tigressa Rodrigues,Pablo Barbosa,Edy De Brito,Guilherme Zocolo,Adonay Loiola,Ronaldo Do Nascimento,Tatiana Fernandes,Mario Paz

doi:10.21577/0103-5053.20180094

Abstract

A method based on QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection was described for the pesticides dichlorvos, disulfoton, ethoprophos, parathion methyl, fenchlorphos, chlorpyrifos, azinphos methyl and prothiofos in sapodilla. For all compounds studies, it was observed a strong matrix effect showing the need to use matrix matched calibration strategy. Method was validated, and good linearity (R > 0.99) was obtained for all pesticides studied with limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) ranging from 0.01 to 0.06 mg kg-1 and 0.03 to 0.2 mg kg-1, respectively. Recovery studies were performed at different levels (0.08, 0.10, 0.14, 0.20, 0.35 and 1.17 mg kg-1) and showed good results (between 70 and 120% with relative standard deviation (RSD) < 20%). A statistical test was applied to the coefficients of the analytical curves obtained in the sapodilla matrix. Analyses of commercial samples showed chlorpyrifos were detected in about 70 and 33% for fruit and pulps samples, respectively. It should be noted that chlorpyrifos is not permitted in sapodilla crops by ANVISA and EC guidelines.

Highlights

IntroductionConsidered to be the ‘fruit honey of the tropics’ by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa), consumer’s consumption of sapodilla has increased in the last years due to its nutritional benefits along with the pleasant sensory characteristics such as its aroma and flavor.[3] It is commonly used as a raw material for ice cream, it can be a source of toxic substances due to the application of pesticides in the crops.[4] In 2010, the application of pesticides in Brazil increased twice the world average.[5] The deleterious action of pesticides can cause a range of clinical manifestations, such as nausea, lack of appetite, headaches, allergies and can be linked to different forms of cancer, genetic alterations and neurological effects.[6,7]
The sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is a fruit native to southern Mexico and Central America which had good adaptability to Brazil, mainly in the northeastern part of the country, due to the favorable climatic conditions.[1,2]Considered to be the ‘fruit honey of the tropics’ by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa), consumer’s consumption of sapodilla has increased in the last years due to its nutritional benefits along with the pleasant sensory characteristics such as its aroma and flavor.[3]
The chromatographic conditions described previously for the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-mass spectrometry (MS)) system allowed an efficient resolution for the eight OPPs pesticides

Summary

Introduction

Considered to be the ‘fruit honey of the tropics’ by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa), consumer’s consumption of sapodilla has increased in the last years due to its nutritional benefits along with the pleasant sensory characteristics such as its aroma and flavor.[3] It is commonly used as a raw material for ice cream, it can be a source of toxic substances due to the application of pesticides in the crops.[4] In 2010, the application of pesticides in Brazil increased twice the world average.[5] The deleterious action of pesticides can cause a range of clinical manifestations, such as nausea, lack of appetite, headaches, allergies and can be linked to different forms of cancer, genetic alterations and neurological effects.[6,7].

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