Using a Triple Quadrupole GCMS/ MS System for Rapid Analysis of 303 Pesticide Residues in Green Beans

Pesticide analysis is extremely important due to the need to ensure that foodstuff is not contaminated with pesticide residues, which can be harmful to human health. Pesticide analysis poses a number of challenges for laboratories due to the wide ranging chemistries within the contaminants. As the variety of pesticides continually expands, techniques traditionally used for pesticide residue analysis in laboratories require that one sample be analyzed using several injections with different methods in order to ensure a comprehensive screening, with no pesticides left undetected. This requirement for several injections is time consuming and significantly reduces the speed of sample analysis. This article discusses how the development of new GC-MS/MS technology significantly expands the number of pesticides that can be confirmed in a single injection, increasing laboratory productivity and protecting both the environment and human health.

Introduction

Pesticides are used to reduce or eliminate unwanted organisms or “pests” that contaminate our food and harm our environment and consequently our health. Typically, pesticides are a chemical substance, biological agent, antimicrobial or  disinfectant. There are currently over 1000 recognized pesticides utilized in the production of foodstuffs worldwide, with the requirement for pesticide usage growing as consumer demand for food at a low cost and out of season increases.

Pesticide residues that can be detected in a range of agricultural products, including green beans, can be extremely harmful to human health due to their toxic nature. The consumption of pesticides such as lindane and carbendazim have been linked with long term health effects including cancer, fertility problems and hormone disruption, along with more short term ailments such as dizziness, headaches, fatigue, memory impairment, visual disorders and vomiting. They have also

been known to cause skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation when consumed. As a result of these serious health effects, strict regulations governing pesticide usage have been globally implemented, with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides imposed.