Determinação de pesticidas em amostras de lactuca sativa var. Crispa (alface crespa) por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (CG-EM)

Abstract

Pesticides are used as the main strategy in the combat and prevention of agricultural pests in order to ensure greater food production for the population. In emerging countries like Brazil, whose major income in the economy depends on agricultural exports, the use of agrochemicals is too much. Especially in lettuce crops, contamination by pesticide residues has been a constant concern due to the high toxicity associated with these substances. Therefore, the need to monitor the quality of the food produced becomes evident, in order to prevent possible damage to consumer health from exposure to these toxic agents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the presence of pesticide residues in samples of Lactuca sativa var. crispa through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The samples were obtained from the open markets of Oitizeiro, Mangabeira central market, central market and CEASA, all located in the municipality of João Pessoa, Paraíba. The analysis was performed in duplicate, and the preparation of the samples was processed through extraction with ethyl acetate and hexane plus sodium sulfate, these were submitted to a 300 rpm centrifugation for three hours. Aiming at the detection of the toxic residues at different peak checks, optimal chromatographic conditions were adopted in GC-MS. Given the above, it is expected that the results of this work will serve as a reference for the development of methods and programs for pesticide supervision and risk management, whether environmental or for human health.