BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to investigate the residual characteristics of insecticides used for Oriental Tobacco Budworm control and to establish the recommended pre-harvest residue limit leading to contribution in safety of paprika production. METHODS AND RESULTS: The recommended Pre-Harvest Residue Limits (PHRLs) of insecticides during cultivation of paprika were calculated from residue analyses of insecticides in fruits 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days after treatment. Paprika samples were extracted with QuEChERS method and cleaned-up with amino propyl SPE cartridge and PSA, and insecticide residues were analyzed either by HPLC/DAD or GLC/ECD. The limits of detection were 0.01 mg/kg for 5 insecticides. Average recoveries were - of 5 insecticides at fortification levels of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg. The biological half-lives of the insecticides were 8.5 days for bifenthrin, 11.8 days for chlorantraniliprole, 16.8 days for chlorfenapyr, 7.1 days for lamda-cyhalothrin and 31.3 days for methoxyfenozide at recommended dosage, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): The pre-harvest residue limits for 10 days before harvest were recommended 1.05 mg/kg, 1.41 mg/kg, 0.93 mg/kg, 2.06 mg/kg and 1.08 mg/kg as bifenthrin, chlorantraniliprole, chlorfenapyr, lamda-cyhalothrin and methoxyfenozide, respectively. This study can provide good practical measures to produce safe paprika fruit by prevention of products from exceeding of MRLs at pre-harvest stage.
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