Determination of quizalofop-p-ethyl in onion: residual dissipation pattern, weed control efficiency, and food safety assessment under field conditions.

Monitoring pesticide residue levels becomes crucial to maintain quality and guarantee food safety as the consumption of onion green leaves and immature and mature bulbs (either raw or processed) rises. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons with quizalofop-p-ethyl (5% EC) at 50 and 100 g a.i. ha-1 to evaluate weed control efficiency and to determine terminal residues. Post-emergence application of fop herbicide at 100 g a.i. ha-1 kept the weed density and dry weight reasonably at a lower level and enhanced the productivity of onion with higher economic returns. A rapid, sensitive, and analytical method was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with excellent linearity (r2 > 0.99). The limit of quantification for quizalofop-p-ethyl was established at 0.04 mg kg-1 with signal to noise (S/N) ratio ≥ 10. The method was successfully applied and initial quantified residues were in the range of 2.5-4.4 mg kg-1 irrespective of seasons and doses. Finally, the presence of targeted herbicide residues in harvested samples was confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) under optimized operating conditions. Dietary risk assessment assured harvested onions were safe for consumption at the recommended dose. It also can be concluded that quizalofop ethyl did not adversely influence soil micro-organisms at standard rates of application.

Simultaneous Monitoring and Decontamination of Pesticide Residues in Phytomedicine-Enriched Betel Leaf Utilizing QuEChERS-GC-MS/MS Technology to Safeguard Public Health.

BACKGROUND: The presence of undesirable substances, including pesticides (xenobiotics) in betel leaf (Piper betel), is a great concern for consumers because it is chewed and consumed directly. To protect the consumer's health, a modified QuEChERS method for monitoring purposes and subsequent decontamination process has been developed. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work was to establish a multi-residue analytical method for monitoring nonpermitted organophosphorus pesticide residues in betel leaf, as well as cost-effective cleaning strategies. METHOD: The homogenized 15 g samples (20 betel leaf samples collected in West Bengal, India) were extracted with a modified QuEChERS method using acetonitrile, reconstituted to acetone, and finally analyzed by GC-MS/MS. Possible decontamination techniques (such as tap water washing, 2% saltwater washing, and lukewarm water washing) were evaluated. RESULTS: The limit of detection ranged from 0.003 to 0.005 mg/kg, and limit of quantification was 0.01 mg/kg. Recoveries ranged from 80 to 120% with RSDr 9%. One sample was found to contain three pesticides 4 to 7 times higher than MRLs. Suggested decontamination methods allowed reducing toxic traces below European limits. CONCLUSIONS: The suggested approach is useful for determining pesticide residues in betel leaves quickly. Traditional techniques of processing betel leaves may reduce pesticide residues below regulatory limits. HIGHLIGHTS: A multi-residue method and decontamination of pesticides in betel leaf using QuEChERS-GC-MS/MS technology with satisfactory method performance was achieved. Domestic decontamination techniques have a high efficacy in reducing pesticide residues from betel leaves, making them safe for human consumption.