Evaluation of QuEChERS Method for GC Analysis of Pesticides in Tropical Fruits from Yucatan, Mexico

The pesticides intake causes health problems; therefore, food must not exceed the maximum allowable limits. The aim of this work was the evaluation of a multi-residue method for the determination of eleven pesticides in tropical fruits of Yucatan, Mexico. Pesticide extraction was carried out with acetonitrile and clean-up by dispersive solid phase extraction (QuEChERS method). The extracts were analyzed by GC/MS. The quantification was performed by the external standard matrix match calibration. Most of the quantification limits were below 10 ng×g-1. In 70% of the cases, the relative standard deviation was lower than 15%. The pesticide recoveries ranged from 67.74% to 138.57%. The method allowed the quantification of pesticides in papaya, melon, dragon fruit and sugar apple.