Pesticide Residue Analysis in Hive Products of <i>Apis cerana indica</i> F. from Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Honey and pollen collected from experimental fields in Kutladampatti village and farmer’s field from different locations of Tamil Nadu were analysed for the presence of pesticide residues in modified QuEChERs method which showed the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9939, 0.9919, 0.9869, 0.9803, 0.9981, 0.9918 and 0.9824 for chlorpyrifos, fipronil, lambda cyhalothrin, profenofos, imidacloprid, flubendiamide and thiamethoxam respectively. The method adopted in this experiment resulted in LOQ of 0.0036, 0.0057, 0.0027, 0.0027, 0.0032, 0.0041 and 0.0044 μg/g and LOD of 0.0011, 0.0017, 0.0008, 0.0008, 0.0009, 0.0012 and 0.0013 for chlorpyrifos, fipronil, lambda cyhalothrin, profenophos, imidacloprid, flubendiamide and thiamethoxam respectively. Recovery of the method was recorded as 96.33% for chlorpyrifos spiked with 0.1 μg/ g in honey while fipronil 0.1 μg/ g spiked honey samples recorded the maximum recovery of 102.33%. Lambda cyhalothrin recorded a maximum recovery of 98.67% in honey when spiked with 0.1 μg/ g of pesticide whereas Imidacloprid recorded a maximum recovery of 98.42% in honey when spiked with 0.1 μg/g of pesticide. Profenofos recorded with a maximum recovery of 103.33% in pollen sample spiked with 0.1 μg/ g. Flubendiamide recorded a maximum recovery of 99.67% in honey when spiked with 0.5 μg/ g of pesticide and thiamethoxam recorded 101.67% recovery in 0.1 μg/g spiked honey sample. The modified QuEChERS method recorded reduced matrix effect compared to conventional QuEChERS method. No residue of insecticidal chemicals was found in any of the samples collected from the experimental plots and farmer’s holdings as well.