An orthogonal experimental design and QuEChERS based UFLC-MS/MS for multi-pesticides and human exposure risk assessment in Honeysuckle

Abstract Honeysuckle with outstanding medicinal and edible functions has attracted increasing world-wide attention. However, the inevitable use and residue of pesticides has caused serious threaten to its quality and safety, as well as human health. In this study, a modified QuEChERS based UFLC-MS/MS approach was developed for simultaneous determination of 23 pesticides in 64 real honeysuckle samples collected from different places of China. An orthogonal experimental design was introduced for optimized the crucial parameters for highly-efficient extraction of diverse pesticides in acetonitrile containing 1 % (v/v) acetic acid, with MgSO4, PSA and GCB as the adsorbents. 18 pesticides (incidence rate of 78.26 %) were detected in these honeysuckle samples with highest incidence rate (100 %) for carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, metalaxyl, and chlorpyrifos. The incidence rate of officially-banned pesticides was 93.75 % with contents from 0.0097 to 0.22836 mg/kg. Imidacloprid, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl and acetamiprid presented high residue levels more than the maximum linear concentration point of 0.8 mg/kg (200 ng/mL). Considering the possible health risks related to pesticide residues, risk assessment of human exposure to pesticides via intake of honeysuckle was evaluated, indicating negligible short- and long-term risks to human health. This study provides a robust platform for multi-pesticides monitoring in honeysuckle to promote the proper use of pesticides and protect the consumers from potential health risks associated with pesticide residues in honeysuckle.