Effectiveness of different type of washing agents on reduction of pesticide residues in orange (Citrus sinensis)

Abstract

Abstract Washing, which is the first step in both household and industrial scale food processing, contributes to the reduction of pesticide residues over the surface of fruits. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of different type of non-toxic washing agents (tap water and different concentrations of sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, acetic acid, apple cider and grape vinegar solutions) on residues of abamectin, buprofezin, imazalil, thiophanate-methyl in orange. The residue of pesticides were determined by QuEChERS extraction followed by liquid chromatography equipped with triple quadrupole mass spectrophotometer (LC-MS-MS). The results prevailed that pesticide residue levels decreased gradually during washing steps with processing factors \xa0acidic solutions (%8 acetic acid)\xa0>\xa0vinegar solutions\xa0≈\xa0neutral solutions (10% sodium chloride)\xa0>\xa0tap water. In practical applications, household solutions easily found at home preferably sodium carbonate may be used along with tap water to decrease pesticide residues in fresh produce.