Analytical, Nutritional and Clinical Methods Multiresidue determination of pesticides in honey samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and application in environmental contamination Sandra R. Rissato a, * , Ma ´rio S. Galhiane a , Marcos V. de Almeida b , Marli Gerenutti c , Benhard M. Apon d a Department of Chemistry, Paulista State University (UNESP), P.O. Box 473, 17033-360, Bauru, SP, Brazil b Department of Bioengineering, University of Sa ˜o Paulo (USP), Sa ˜o Carlos, SP, Brazil c Department of Pharmacy and Biochemical, University of Sorocaba (UNISO), Sorocaba, SP, Brazil d Chromapon Inc. 9815 Carmenite Road Suite J., 90605, Whittier, CA, United States Received 31 March 2005; received in revised form 26 October 2005; accepted 28 October 2005 Abstract A simple and fast multiresidue method has been developed to determine 48 pesticides within the major groups of pesticides (organo- halogen, organophosphorous, pyrethroids and organonitrogen) in representative samples of locally produced honey, in Bauru (State of Sa ˜o Paulo, Brazil) during 2003–2004. The recovery results found ranged from 76% to 95% and the limits of detection were lower than 0.01 mg/kg for gas chromatography with electron impact mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC–MS- SIM). The results indicated that most pesticides found in the samples belonged to the organohalogen and organophosphorous groups and lower levels of residues of some organonitrogen and pyretroids were also detected. Malathion residues were detected in all the sam- ples, in a high concentration, owing to its applications to control dengue mosquitoes in the area studied. Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Pesticides residue analysis; Capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometric detection with selective ion monitoring; Honey; Environmental contamination 1. Introduction Great productivity gains can be achieved in agriculture, by using the adequate pesticides. Indeed, they are needed to meet the worldÕs demand on foodstuffs and no other alter- native can compete to be used in such a large scale. Slow degradation of pesticides, in the environment, and exten- sive or inappropriate use by farmers, can lead to environ- mental contamination of the water, soil, air, several types of crops and, indirectly, humans (Hamilton & Crossley, 2004; Olkowski, 1991). As a result, consumers are exposed to pesticides, usually in minute quantities, in several food groups including fruits, juices, honey and vegetables and the monitoring pes- ticide residues in honey, helps to assess the potential risk of this product to consumersÕ health, providing information on the pesticides which have been used in the field crops, surrounding the hives. Honeybees (Apis mellifera), perform the vital task of pollinating agricultural crops and native species and are important to the commercial production of honey and beeswax. Every day, 10,000–25,000 honeybee workers make an average of 10 journeys to explore roughly 7 km 2 in the area near their hive, gathering nectar, water, and pol- len from flowers. During this process, various microorgan- isms, chemical products, and particles, suspended in the air, are intercepted by these workers and retained in the hair of their body surface, or inhaled and attached to their trachea (Devillers & Pham-Delegue, 2002). Thus, these 0308-8146/$ - see front matter Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.10.034 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 14 3103 6135; fax: +55 14 3203 2856. E-mail address: srissato@fc.unesp.br (S.R. Rissato). www.elsevier.com/locate/foodchem Food Chemistry 101 (2007) 1719–1726 Food Chemistry