Analysis of pyrethroid pesticides in Chinese vegetables and fruits by GC–MS/MS

A rapid and economical method using modified QuEChERS sample pretreatment coupled with high-sensitivity gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established to simultaneously determine ten pyrethroid pesticides in fruits and vegetables. All pesticides were detected within 20 min of one injection. Concurrent backflushing provided column protection, greatly facilitating instrument maintenance. For quantitation, matrix-matched calibration was used to compensate for signal-enhancement effects and to ensure the precision of the method. The limit of detection (LOD) was in the range of 0.3–4.9 μg/kg. The recovery rate was from 78.8 to 118.6%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 14.8%. The developed method is suitable for rapid and sensitive multi-residue analysis of pyrethroid pesticides in fruits and vegetables. It is good for users in professional institutions that implement safety controls for testing hundreds of agricultural product samples everyday.