Comparison of Two Methods for the Determination of Selected Pesticides in Honey and Honeybee Samples

Abstract

Developed and validated analytical methods for the determination of a wide spectrum of pesticide residues in honey and honeybee samples after the modification of QuEChERS extraction in combination with gas chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were discussed and compared. The developed methods were evaluated regarding the utilized equipment and reagents using Eco-Scale and compared in terms of extraction time, accuracy, precision, sensitivity and versatility, with similar procedures. The results proved that the QuEChERS protocol in combination with LC and GC techniques fulfills the requirements of green analytical chemistry, so it can be used as a tool in environmental monitoring. The recovery was 85–116% for honey and 85.5–103.5% for honeybee samples. The developed methods were successfully applied in monitoring real samples collected from three districts of Pomerania in Poland. Analysis of real samples revealed the presence of the following pesticides: bifenthrin, fenpyroximate, methidathione, spinosad, thiamethoxam, triazophos, metconazole and cypermethrin at levels higher than the MRLs established by the EU.

Evaluation of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables from the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

“…They also allow for a simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis of the targeted analytes and have excellent separation efficiency and a high speed of analysis. Several multi-residue methods, and selective and sensitive detectors, for detecting different classes of pesticides with different chemical and physical properties and separating individual compounds have been proposed [9][10][11]. There is a limited amount of information about the contamination of food, particularly vegetables, with pesticide residues in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia.…”

Optimization of Method for Pesticide Detection in Honey by Using Liquid and Gas Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometric Detection

“…The QuEChERS method was applied for pesticide extraction in honey by other authors [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 41 , 42 ]. The LC-MS/MS method described by Souza Tette et al [ 28 ] was validated to measure 116 pesticides in honey, but 11 compounds showed recoveries at 0.010 mg/kg out of the 70–120% range.…”

“…The LOD ranged from 0.001 to 0.003 mg/kg and the LOQ was 0.005 to 0.01 mg/kg, but the recoveries ranged from 51.13–126.55% [ 27 ]. Both LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS analysis of residual pesticides in honey was described by Bargańska et al [ 42 ]. This method was validated for 51 compounds, 18 of them determined by LC-MS/MS, 21 compounds by GC-MS/MS, and 12 compounds by both methods.…”

“…This method was validated for 51 compounds, 18 of them determined by LC-MS/MS, 21 compounds by GC-MS/MS, and 12 compounds by both methods. The LOD ranged from 0.0028 to 0.09 mg/kg with the LC method and from 0.0023 to 0.027 mg/kg with the GC method [ 42 ]. Compared with these above articles, the method described in the present study was able to detect extensive and broad-spectrum pesticides (168) with very high sensitivity.…”

Bee and Beekeeping Research in a Rapidly Changing World: Advancements and Challenges

“…As Academic Editors of Molecules , in the present article, we selected twelve carefully reviewed articles on bee and beekeeping research published in this international journal [ 6 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. In the first subset of selected articles, recent advances in the field of pesticide detection in beekeeping products are presented [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. A further research field well covered in Molecules in recent years is the evaluation of novel natural products to fight honeybee pathogens and parasites [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”