Pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits from Istanbul by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

Selected pesticide active ingredients are used in various stages of production of fruits and vegetables in Turkey for the purpose of pest control. Due to their harm to humans, animals and the environment, pesticide active ingredients and their residue limits were determined by legal regulations. The aim of this study was to determine and highlight the pesticide residue risk in fruits and vegetables sold in markets and greengrocers and widely consumed in Istanbul, one of the most populated cities in Turkey. 393 pesticide active ingredients in 100 fruit and vegetable samples (tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, strawberries and apples in total) were screened using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) with Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation method. The mean recoveries of the pesticides were between 76.5 % and 115.5 %, LOQ for them was 0.01 mg kg-1. Pesticide residue was detected in 43% of the samples. A total of 7 (7%) samples contained pesticide residues above maximum residue limit (MRL). While pesticide residues were detected above MRL in tomato, strawberry and cucumber samples; no pesticide residues were found above MRL in pepper and apple samples. In the samples analyzed, 42 different pesticide residues were detected, the most detected pesticide active substance in the samples examined was Acetamiprid. Phorate Sulfone, one of the banned pesticides, was detected in a strawberry sample.