Expanding Capabilities in Multi-Residue Pesticide Analysis Using the LCMS-8060
Author(s): David R. Baker1, Laëtitia Fages2, Eric Capodanno2, Neil Loftus1
1. Shimadzu Corporation, UK, 2. Phytocontrol, France
Published By: Shimadzu Corporation
Issue: C136
Year of Publication: 2016
Abstract: With an increasing global population, food security is increasingly under threat and there is a growing challenge for agriculture to produce more food, safely and more sustainably. The use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides reduce crop losses both before and after harvest, and increase crop yields. However, pesticide residues resulting from the use of plant protection products on crops may pose a risk to human health and require a legislative framework to monitor pesticide residues in food.
National programs for pesticide monitoring in the US, Europe and Japan have set Maximum Residue Levels (MRL’s) or tolerance information (EPA) for pesticides in food products. A default value of 0.01 mg/kg is applied for MTL enforcement, which therefore requires highly sensitive and specific analytical technologies to monitor an increasing number of pesticides.
This application note describes the expanded capability of the LCMS-8060 to help accelerate method development workflows and support the increased pesticide monitoring programs. Using the Shimadzu Pesticide MRM Library (the Library includes information on 766 certified reference materials) a single multi-residue LC/MS/MS method was developed for 646 pesticides (3 MRM transitions for over 99% targeted pesticides resulting in 1,919 transitions in total, with a polarity switching time of 5 msec).
Acknowledgment(s): The analysis outlined in this application note featured a Restek Raptor Biphenyl LC column (cat.# 9309A12).