Determination of Organochlorine Pesticides in Some Vegetable Samples Using GC-MS

Abstract

This study investigated the level of pesticide pollution using marrow squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), banana pepper (Capsicum annuum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and onion (Allium flavum L.) in Kirklareli, Turkey. For this purpose, the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Vegetables were prepared for analysis by QuEChERS extraction method. Concentrations of Hexachlorocyclohexane (Sigma HCH), aldrin, heptachlor, dieldrin, endosulfan, methoxychlor and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (Sigma DDT) were determined in vegetables collected from different points in Kirklareli. The LOD and LOQ were between 0.02-0.26 and 0.06-0.87 mu g/L, respectively. The RSDs of the migration time ranged from 2.4% to 7.7% for the 18 analytes, indicating the good repeatability of the method. Recoveries of the spiked analytes in vegetables ranged from 83% to 104%, respectively. The obtained concentrations for pesticides in all vegetables studied were in the range ND-73.6 mu g/kg.