LC-MS/MS analysis of neonicotinoid insecticides: Residue findings in chilean honeys

Abstract

Neonicotinoids are a relatively new generation of insecticides that have been used for control of pests such as aphids, leafhoppers and whiteflies. This paper presents for the first time a determination of residues of four neonicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid and imidacloprid) in Chilean honey using QuEChERS extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. The limits of detection and quantification found for all analytes ranging from 0.34 to 1.43 μg kg-1 and from 0.30 to 4.76 μg kg-1, respectively. The extraction using QuEChERS method provided recoveries over 79% and the precision showed coefficient of variation lower than 20%. These data are in agreement with the international criteria that recommend general recovery limits of 70 - 120%. Of the 16 samples analyzed, in three honey samples neonicotinoids pesticides were detected. These three samples were collected from the same geographical area (Rengo). Fruit and grain production characterize the province of Rengo. The analysis of the botanical origin of these honeys showed the absence of pollen grains of crops and the majority presence of pollen grains of weeds such as Medicago sativa, Galega officinalis and Brassica rapa, which could be associated with crops. Although the residue levels found were low, the results also confirm the actual occurrence of a transfer of neonicotinoid insecticides from exposed honeybees into honey.

Toxicity of the Pesticides Imidacloprid, Difenoconazole and Glyphosate Alone and in Binary and Ternary Mixtures to Winter Honey Bees: Effects on Survival and Antioxidative Defenses

“…For each pesticide, five concentrations were tested: 0 (control), 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/L (equivalent to 0, 0.0083 0.083, 0.813 and 8.130 µg/kg, respectively, calculated with a sucrose solution density of 1.23 ± 0.02 g/L ( n = 10)). Concentrations were consistent with the residual contamination found in honey, pollen and wax [ 11 , 15 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Six experimental groups of exposure were investigated: the control group (C); the insecticide alone (I); the fungicide alone (F); the herbicide alone (H); the binary mixtures of insecticide + fungicide (IF), insecticide + herbicide (IH) and herbicide + fungicide (HF); and the ternary mixture of insecticide + herbicide + fungicide (IHF).…”

“…A large number of pesticide residues can be found in apicultural matrices such as honey, pollen and beeswax [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Pesticides have been shown to have strong impacts on all ecosystems, and many pesticides, particularly insecticides, have been shown to affect bees [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Exposure of chlorothalonil and acetamiprid reduce the survival and cause multiple internal disturbances in Apis mellifera larvae reared in vitro

“…Fungicides and neonicotinoid insecticides are common xenobiotics detected in bee products ( Pareja et al, 2011 ; Bridi et al, 2018 ). Chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile) is one of the most popular broad-spectrum protective fungicide in the world ( Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

Comparative Study of pesticides effects on Artemia salina (Leach, 1819) survival and morphology

“…Imidacloprid (Evidence® 700WG, Bayer) is a systemic insecticide (Bridi, Larena, Pizarro, Giordano, & Montenegro, 2018). It belongs to the group of neonicotinoid -synthetic insecticides, whose active principle are compounds analogous to natural nicotine, extracted from tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum) (Faria, 2009;Braibante & Zappe, 2012).…”