Simultaneous Determination of Organochlorine, Organophosphorus, and Pyrethroid Pesticides in Bee Pollens by Solid-Phase Extraction Cleanup Followed by Gas Chromatography Using Electron-Capture Detector

Abstract

A method for routine determination of the residues of nine organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), ten organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), and seven pyrethroid pesticides (PPs) in bee pollens was developed. Bee pollen samples were extracted by petroleum ether followed by solid-phase extraction cleaning and detected by gas chromatography–micro electron capture detection. Range of detection limits are 0.3–3.3 μg/kg for OCPs, 1.0–19.1 μg/kg for PPs and 1.1–19.7 μg/kg for OPPs. Recoveries of OCPs, OPPs, and PPs were in the range of 88.9–122.7 %, 86.8–123.1 %, and 90.8–118.7 %, respectively. The method was applied successfully to analyze real bee pollen samples. The results show a low level of contamination caused by pesticide residues indicating safe supply of bee pollen for consumers.