Multiresidual analytical method for determination of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables

Abstract

Laboratories which control pesticide residues in food need a fast and efficient multiresidual method that enables simple determination of a wide variety of substances. For this purpose we developed a method for simultaneous determination of 43 active substances. The method implies common preparation of a sample and its analysis using gas chromatograph coupled with mass selective detector. The method is suitable for active substances from very polar (e.g. metamidphos) to non-polar ones (e.g. DDT). It was used for determination of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables as part of national monitoring programme in Slovenia in the years 2001 and 2002.