Monitoring of Neonicotinoid Pesticide Residues in Paprika Using UPLC-MS/MS from Gyeongnam Region

Monitoring or follow-up surveying pesticide residues in agricultural commodities is the key to meet the international regulations and to enhance international competitiveness of Korean agricultural commodities. Six neonicotinoid insecticides, acctamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam were monitored in 95 paprika samples collected from Gyeongnam area. Thc pesticide residues were extracted by EN 15662 buffer based on the QuEChERS method, clean-upped with dispersive solid-phase extraction method to remove interfering pigments, and analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. The neonicotinoid pesticides were detected in 90.5% of the paprika samples. Two or more pesticides were detected in 82.3% of samples. Although detection frequencies were high, all samples complied with the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by both the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) and Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.