Analysing Pestiside Residues in Apple
Determining pesticide residues by GC-MS
Pesticides are commonly used within the agricultural industry as a means of killing or repelling pests to protect crops and livestock. The risk of pesticide toxicity in the foods we consume remains an area of concern. A number of studies indicate a link between the exposure to pesticides and acute health problems including cancer; respiratory, neurological and dermatological issues; and the risk of miscarriages and birth defects. The risks that pesticides pose to human health have prompted many international and national organizations to establish maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, which need to be monitored and enforced. The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method for pesticide analysis was first introduced by United States Department of Agriculture scientists in 2003, to address this need. This technique is used for the determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. It is fast, simple and inexpensive. However, the method has since been modified to address some problematic pesticides by including a buffered extraction system.
Analytical Challenges in Measuring Migration from Food Contact Materials
November 2nd 2015Food contact materials contain low molecular weight additives and processing aids which can migrate into foods leading to trace levels of contamination. Food safety is ensured through regulations, comprising compositional controls and migration limits, which present a significant analytical challenge to the food industry to ensure compliance and demonstrate due diligence. Of the various analytical approaches, LC-MS/MS has proved to be an essential tool in monitoring migration of target compounds into foods, and more sophisticated approaches such as LC-high resolution MS (Orbitrap) are being increasingly used for untargeted analysis to monitor non-intentionally added substances. This podcast will provide an overview to this area, illustrated with various applications showing current approaches being employed.
Detecting Hyper-Fast Chromatographic Peaks Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry
May 6th 2025Ion mobility spectrometers can detect trace compounds quickly, though they can face various issues with detecting certain peaks. University of Hannover scientists created a new system for resolving hyper-fast gas chromatography (GC) peaks.
