Title : Pesticide residue analysis in wild greens using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS
Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the potential health risks associated with pesticide residues in edible wild greens distributed in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. A total of 233 samples were collected, including 145 leafy vegetable samples from 15 species and 88 stalk vegetable samples from 7 species. Pesticide residues were detected in 94 samples (40.3%), with a higher detection rate in leafy vegetables (50.3%) compared to stalk vegetables (23.9%). Among the analyzed samples, four (1.7%) exceeded the Korean Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), including butterbur (2 samples), aralia shoots (1 sample), and shepherd’s purse (1 sample). In total, 471 types of pesticide residues were screened using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, and 63 pesticide types were detected 221 times at concentrations ranging from 0.010 to 6.437 mg/kg. The most frequently detected pesticides were fludioxonil (18 times), azoxystrobin (16 times), and tebuconazole (10 times). Non-compliant residues included pendimethalin and cadusafos in butterbur, carbendazim in aralia shoots, and dichlobenil in shepherd’s purse. These findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and risk-based management strategies to ensure the safety of wild greens in local food distribution.
